No active shooter was in Dexter; no schools or businesses threatened

The Dexter School District went on lockdown Thursday morning an the direction of law enforcement as a precaution.

“On Thursday, June 8, 2023, the Dexter Police Department received a call regarding an active shooter,” said Dexter Police Chief Hank Trout. “The initial report did not indicate a specific location, however, the Dexter Police Department responded to the schools and placed them on lockdown.”

Trout said law enforcement officers with the Dexter Police Department, the Stoddard County Sheriff's Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol searched each school to ensure the safety of the students and staff. Once the schools were searched, the school administrators were given an "all clear" and school resumed.

“During this incident Detective Captain Cory Mills and other officers conducted several

interviews to identify the original caller,” said Trout. “While investigating, detective Mills discovered that the original person who made a statement about an active shooter, was in fact talking about an alert they received from KFVS-12, regarding a wanted suspect that was involved in a shooting in Bollinger County. The information about an active shooter in Dexter was misinformation and there was never a direct threat to the school or any business in Dexter.”

The Dexter Police Department extended their thanks to the Stoddard County Sheriff's Office, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the staff at the Dexter School District for their assistance.

A statement from the Dexter School District said school resumed as normal once the all clear was given and the students and staff were never at risk. The district extended their thanks to the Dexter Police Department, Stoddard County Sheriff;s office and Missouri State Highway Patrol for their quick and thorough response to the school.