CLAIBORNE COUNTY, Tenn. — Multiple agencies in Claiborne County responded to what was initially reported as an "active shooter" call at Lincoln Memorial University's campus on Thursday afternoon. The Tazewell Police Department said officers later learned the call was a mistake because of a miscommunication.
According to TPD, Claiborne E-911 operators received a call about an active shooter on LMU's campus Thursday around 12:30 p.m. Officers with TPD and the Claiborne County Sheriff's Office responded.
Not long after, officers learned that the incident was misreported. TPD said the "active shooter" call was actually a drill that was miscommunicated to dispatchers.
"Claiborne E-911 dispatch did a phenomenal job of dispatching and reporting information to responding officers," TPD said. "It is imperative for the public to know that the officers of TPD and CCSO stand ready to respond to any incident and assist anywhere we are needed. Also, we would like to commend LMU Police and Security Department for conducting this type of training to ensure their faculty members and students are safe."
This is not the first time a drill was mistaken for the real deal. In 2019, an active shooter training drill led to a similar response at a Department of Veterans Affairs campus in Murfreesboro.
