Call Linked to Nationwide Hoaxes Triggers Lockdown and Raises Communication Questions

Carrie Jones

Apr 04, 2026

BAR HARBOR—Though Friday’s lockdown of the Mount Desert Island High School turned out to be a hoax, for many of the students and faculty, the staff and the parents, it still had emotional and psychological impacts.

The school is not alone.

According to Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Chief David Kerns, the threatening phone call that initiated a shut down at Mount Desert Island High School was identified as one used for hoaxes throughout the country.

“Our preliminary investigation determined that the phone number used this morning has recently been used for other false reports around the United States prompting law enforcement response. We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding as we continue our investigation,” Chief Kerns said.

Fortunately, there was no threat, but no one initially knew that.

“On April 3, 2026, at approximately 9:30 a.m., the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Department received a panic alarm and call from the MDI High School stating there was a man with a weapon in the parking lot threatening harm inside the school. Officers responded to the high school and requested assistance from area law enforcement. The school was in lockdown and no one was located outside the school. The threat was serious enough that law enforcement searched the entire building and grounds for the safety of students and staff,” Kerns said in a press statement issued April 3 at 4:30 p.m.

He also thanked the multiple agencies involved.

For many of the high school staff and some of its students, it wasn’t the first time that they’d been in lockdown because of a threat.

Wendy Littlefield, an administrative assistant and bookkeeper at the high school, explained the domino effect that the call had.

“Today was my second lockdown in over 20 years working at the MDI High School office. But today felt different. Today felt like a line of dominos—thousands of them—and I was the second one to fall,” Littlefield said.

Littlefield continued, “My coworker answered the phone. It was one of the worst calls anyone in a school office could ever receive: someone saying they were outside with a gun and were going to kill us all—and that if we called the police, they would kill them too. That was the first domino. She was talking to him while telling me what he was saying.

“I ran to the principal to tell him what had happened, then ran back to the office. My coworker had already pressed the alarm. She wasn’t sure hers worked, so I pressed mine too. This starts complete panic in our school.

“Then I had to pick up the phone and make the announcement no one ever wants to make—the one that sends fear through hundreds of students and staff:
’Attention please, go into lockdown at this time. This is not a drill. Please lock down at this time. This is not a drill.’”

Others have described her voice as familiar and calm.

Littlefield said that after the announcement, “then hundreds more dominos fell. My staff, my students and within minutes text messages going to parents from scared students and all of those dominos fell.

“I called the police and told them what we had received. More dominos.

“In that moment, I also thought about our local law enforcement and first responders who would be rushing toward us. What if this was real? What if I had just put their lives in danger too?

“More than anything, I wanted to keep our students safe, and my coworkers—many of whom feel like family. But we also had to protect ourselves, so the only choice we had was to lockdown—I was actually fearing for our lives—in the moment I truly believed that there may be someone coming in with a gun. We locked ourselves in the bathroom, three coworkers, friends, like sisters together. We sat on the floor in the dark, listening to the phone ring and ring and ring.

“All I could think about were the parents. So many parents calling, worried about their children—their babies—and I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t tell them anything. I was locked down, trying to protect myself.

“Is that selfish? Should I have gone back out to answer the phones, to give whatever information I could?

“Today, the answer was no. And I’m still struggling with that.

“Texting my family and telling them what was going on was so hard; there were actual moments that I thought that today I might die, that I might get shot. No one should be at their job and fear that, no one should have to crouch on the bathroom floor at their work place. What has this world come to?

“For a couple of hours, students texted parents, parents texted other parents, people called friends and neighbors (more and more dominos) and everyone searched online for information—some of it true, some of it not. When I had a moment, I looked too. There was so much being said. Things that didn’t seem true but maybe they could be.

“It was so hard to stay in that bathroom and not answer the phone.

“At times it was quiet. Then we heard running. Voices. We told each other to be quiet, holding our breath, afraid.

“And the whole time, we were just like everyone else—students, staff, parents—scared, listening, and waiting.

“Finally we received word that it was likely a hoax—still ‘likely’ (and) that means there is still doubt.

“Within an hour there were dozens of first responders at our school inside and out. Sincere thanks to you all for putting your lives in danger to protect us. Finally receiving word that all were being sent to the gym. Slowly, but surely, each room was evacuated as we walked the hall with an officer in front of us and one behind guns visible groups were taken to the gym. There was an officer at every corner and every entrance watching to be sure we were all safe.

“If it was a hoax they were still taking if very seriously (and) when we were finally escorted to the gym, it was a relief and still hard. It took nearly two hours to make sure all students and staff were accounted for. While we sat in the gym watching officers at every entrance and looking at all of those kids sitting on those bleachers it was a relief and still a little uneasy.

“I was so impressed with those kids, they sat mostly talking amongst themselves, some crying, some quiet and some just grateful to be sitting with their peers and advisors. Soon all were released and sent home.”

They are safe, she said, but it still leaves questions.

“How do we go back to school Monday? How do I return to my job and have it be business as usual? How do I pick up that phone to do a regular announcement after making that dreaded announcement?” she asked. “I guess I just will, along with the rest of our staff. Over the weekend the dominos will one by one stand back up and by Monday morning the # 2 domino will stand up and return to work along side the #1 domino who will be right back at the front entrance again.”

During the incident, the teachers, students, and staff hunkered down in their rooms during the high school’s lockdown were not alerted that the call was likely a hoax or updated about plans though parents received texts and emails about the situation from School Superintendent Michael Zboray.

“MDIHS was in lockdown. A call was received by the school that there was a man outside the school with an AR. Police are on the grounds of the school grounds. This has been a hoax call and I will share more when it is available. All students and staff are safe,” Zboray wrote via an email notification from the Mount Desert Island Regional School System shortly after 10 a.m.

Parents received this email if they were signed up for notifications. Spouses and partners of staff, emergency contacts, did not.

The problem, according to some teachers, is that the teachers and staff members themselves didn’t receive those updates.

Instead, people inside the building as law enforcement made sure that people were safe, turned to social media posts and their parents to learn what was going on.

One teacher said that she had to rely on rumors about what was happening in the school.

Friday afternoon, Zboray answered other Bar Harbor Story questions by sending the information he’d sent to parents, which we’d already received, but did not speak to the lack of notice to those inside the building nor the standard operating procedures or guidelines that concern notifications to those that are most immediately involved with any threat and safeguarding the students.

“Your child’s safety is our top priority. DO NOT come to the school or attempt calling the office until you are notified that (the) lockdown/barricade is lifted,” his email to parents and caregivers continued. “Lockdown/barricade is implemented when the imminent threat of violence or gunfire is identified on the campus, or the school is directed by law enforcement to implement lockdown/barricade. Students are to remain in designated classrooms or lockdown locations at all times with doors locked and barricaded, until cleared by law enforcement or site administration.”

A second notification was released at 10:16, via email and text, which stated, “This morning, MDIHS received a call of someone outside the school with an AR. Staff followed protocol, and a lockdown was ordered. Police were on site in minutes and cleared the grounds. Students and staff are safe and followed protocol. The event is being investigated as a hoax.”

Messages about dismissal updates, sent to parents and caregivers, occurred through both text and email from 11:03 through 11:46.

The hoax has also caused the extension of the high school’s third quarter.

According to Principal Matthew Haney, “Due to the interruption in our instructional schedule today, we have decided to extend the third academic quarter by one day. This adjustment is intended to ensure that all students have sufficient time to complete their coursework and assessments, particularly in nine-week classes that will be ending with the conclusion of the quarter.”

The original end date was April 3. It is now, Monday, April 6. It will be a full school day schedule.

On Friday afternoon, Zboray released another statement about the incident, “I want to share that this morning, a threat was received by phone at the high school. The nature of the threat necessitated an immediate lockdown. The initial report was that someone was on school property with a weapon with the intent to harm. Law enforcement arrived on site within minutes and conducted an investigation, during which it was determined that no individual was on the school grounds. The threat was substantial enough for law enforcement to thoroughly sweep the building and grounds to ensure the safety of all students and staff.

“I want to express my profound gratitude to our local, county, and state law enforcement partners for their rapid response, professionalism, and thoroughness.

“Since it was an early release and the threat was deemed not credible, police and school officials decided it was appropriate to let students leave school an hour later than their normal release time and not conduct reunification off site.

“I am incredibly proud of our students and staff for their composure during the lockdown. I also recognize and appreciate the deep concern felt by parents as they awaited news regarding the safety of their children.

“We will debrief this experience with all affected parties to ensure we can continue to provide a safe learning environment for students and staff.”

---

All photos: Shaun Farrar/Bar Harbor Story.

---

HELP SUPPORT THE BAR HARBOR STORY

When we started The Bar Harbor Story, we didn’t know if anyone would read it. But you showed up. You shared. You sent tips. Now—over 400,000 views every month later—it’s clear: people here care about their community and each other.

We’ve kept everything free because news should never be out of reach, but every one of our stories takes time to write, and your support keeps The Bar Harbor Story going.

If you value our work, please consider a paid subscription, a founding membership, or a sponsorship.

It truly helps us cover one more meeting, tell one more story, shine one more light.

Even $5 a month makes a difference. Click here to become a one-time supporter now.

Thank you so much for being here.

Founding member information can be found here.

Have questions about sponsorships? Just send Shaun an email at sfarrar86@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you.