12-year-old Arrested, Middle School Lockdown: 'Active Shooter' Threat, Prank Call Causes Panic at Minnesota Middle School, Hoax Non-Threatening

Reports confirm that a 12-year-old student was arrested at Minnesota's New Prague Middle School after he issued an "active shooter" prank call which caused an immediate school lockdown that lasted for approximately two hours on Wednesday, March 20. Authorities confirm that the unidentified student called police twice to report a shooting at the school - the young boy was taken into custody shortly after cops responded to the call. No students or faculty were harmed in the 911 hoax.

The 8 a.m. 911 emergency call prompted a lockdown at the middle school, high school, and Central Education Campus buildings in New Prague. According to Scott County Sheriff Kevin Studnicka, the young prankster said he was inside one of the school buildings.

"He claimed he needed help because there was a shooter in the building with an AK-47 and that there were a couple of victims," Studnicka said. The sheriff explains that when dispatchers asked for the caller's cell phone number, the boy claimed that it was a new phone and he didn't know the number. Turns out, the cell phone used in the prank call was only capable of dialing 911.

Police Chief Mark Vosejpka said authorities quickly determined that no one was hurt or in danger. Shortly after, deputies discovered that the caller was a 12-year-old boy - Vosejpka didn't explain what led cops to suspect that specific student.

"All students are safe," middle school spokeswoman Laura Knoke told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "Officers are checking every room. Nothing else is going on. We are just in a lockdown, and the officers are checking the building."

Parents who immediately rushed to the scene were directed to a nearby church and students were dismissed from the schools by late morning. Classes were canceled for the rest of the day to "relieve anxiety," but are expected to resume Thursday.

"In this day and age you have to take these things very seriously," Vosejpka told Minnesota Public Radio.