A large police presence in a Fall River neighborhood Saturday evening was sparked by a hoax 911 call that falsely claimed two people had been killed and children were in danger, authorities said.
According to the Fall River Police Department, officers responded to 322 Stafford Road around 6:30 p.m. after an anonymous caller reported having killed their parents and claimed two children were still alive inside the home.
Police said the caller also threatened to harm the children if anyone entered the residence and made threats against responding officers.
Due to the seriousness of the call, police quickly established a perimeter around the area and activated the department's Emergency Services Unit to assist with the response.
After performing a thorough investigation, officers determined the report was a hoax and that no such incident had occurred.
"There is no ongoing threat to the public," the department said in a statement.
"Hoax emergency calls of this nature are not harmless pranks. They place residents and responding officers at unnecessary risk and divert significant police personnel and resources away from legitimate emergencies occurring throughout our city," Fall River police said.
Police thanked area residents for their patience and cooperation during the incident.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to identify the person responsible for making the call.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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