Kenosha police's investigation into active shooter hoax call turns inactive after IP address found in Ethiopia

KENOSHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Kenosha police are at a standstill after months of trying to find the person responsible for calling 911 with false information about an active shooter inside Bradford High School on Oct. 20.

The Kenosha school was one of more than a dozen across Wisconsin to receive hoax calls, sending thousands of students into lockdown and multiple law enforcement agencies to conduct full swatting responses.

There were no real shootings.

Lt. Joseph Nosalik, the public information officer for Kenosha Police, told CBS 58 the investigation is considered inactive as of Dec. 15.

"It doesn't mean that it's a closed investigation, but right now, it's not likely to move forward unless we learn some new information," Nosalik said.

Nosalik said investigators know the hoax call came from an IP address outside of the country, likely Ethiopia.

Now, he said their hands are tied. 

"Any search warrants that we would file with the state or any subpoenas that we would issue to a cell carrier, there's no legally binding authority behind anything outside of the United States for us," Nosalik said. "To have that roadblock there, is immensely frustrating."

Kenosha police are working with other departments who received similar calls.

"It's likely they all came from that same IP address," Nosalik said.

Despite early indication the call could be fake, police carried out a full-scale response.

Nosalik said it was a good reminder that training is crucial.

"Run, hide fight, the ALICE drills, all of the things that students do and have been doing for so many years, that training works," Nosalik said.

Although police reached a barrier in their investigation, Nosalik said the case is not closed.

His reminder to the community is to stay vigilant and treat every threat as if it's serious.

"I'm not going to lie, it's going to be very difficult to, to find out who exactly is going to be responsible for this but that doesn't mean that we'll stop," Nosalik said.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is working with state and local partners to investigate these calls. CBS 58 reached out for comment, but they were unavailable.