Swatting hoaxes prompt responses at Lowville and Indian Lake schools

Separate false reports of shots fired prompted emergency responses at two North Country schools Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. The incidents involved Lowville Academy & Central School and Indian Lake Central School; no source has said the reports were connected.

At Lowville, Lewis County Sheriff Michael Carpinelli said the report was false and described it as swatting. The report prompted a lockdown and early dismissal. State Police and Lowville village police responded, and the county undersheriff was sent to the school to answer parents’ questions. As of 1:20 p.m., students were directed to the bus garage to take buses home or be picked up by parents.

At Indian Lake Central School, State Police and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office responded at about 11:05 a.m. after a shots-fired report. State Police said no shots were fired, the school was secured and searched, and the incident was confirmed to be a swatting hoax with no threat to the school. School officials began a reunification process and notified parents.

Swatting involves making a false emergency report intended to bring a law enforcement response. Federal officials have said swatting threats against schools can violate federal law, while emphasizing that officials must treat each report as a potential safety threat until it is checked.

New York schools have faced similar hoax reports. Gov. Kathy Hochul said in October 2023 that more than 10 New York school districts received swatting threats that day, including districts in the North Country. New York State Police also described a series of school swatting incidents in March 2023 as unfounded.

Parents affected by the Lowville dismissal should watch for official district updates. The district’s early-dismissal policy asks parents not to call the school. The Lowville Academy main line is (315) 376-9000. The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office said additional information about the report and response would follow.

State Police said more information about the Indian Lake incident would be released as it becomes available. Indian Lake Central School is at 6345 NY-30 in Indian Lake.