A Hamilton County school district was closed Friday after a threat was made against students. Reading police told WLWT News 5 that the city's schools closed due to a threat that was made when a woman was assaulted by a male, possibly a juvenile, who was dressed as a clown on South Terrace Drive. The woman told WLWT News 5's Alexis Rogers that she was on her porch when she was approached from behind by a man in a clown costume, who put her in a head lock, told her, “I should just kill you right now" and threatened the schools. She said that that a neighbor's smoke alarm going off scared her attacker into fleeing, and she called 911. The school district said

A Hamilton County school district was closed Friday after a threat was made against students.

Reading police told WLWT News 5 that the city's schools closed due to a threat that was made when a woman was assaulted by a male, possibly a juvenile, who was dressed as a clown on South Terrace Drive.

The woman told WLWT News 5's Alexis Rogers that she was on her porch when she was approached from behind by a man in a clown costume, who put her in a head lock, told her, “I should just kill you right now" and threatened the schools.

She said that that a neighbor's smoke alarm going off scared her attacker into fleeing, and she called 911.

The school district said

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that "Overnight, a woman in Reading was attacked by a male dressed as a clown and the perpetrator has not been apprehended. During the attack, the victim reported a threat was made against our students. We take all threats to the safety of our students seriously."



"We were especially concerned with the number of students who walk to school in the early morning hours and made the decision to close school. The district is working closely with the Reading Police on this matter," the district said.

Homecoming will go on as scheduled, with extra police presence, the district superintendent told Rogers.

Students like Dasani Crawford and her grandmother did not receive notification that the school was closed for the day. They were startled when they found out why.

“I usually get here early but this is kind of late. For me to see no one in the parking lot or in the building it is kind of weird,” Crawford said.

Teachers like Betty Banfield also reported to work, where she later found out about the clown incident.

“At first I was really shocked. I just hoped it wasn’t one of our children. As long as it wasn’t once of our children we are fine,” Banfield said.“You have to take everything seriously. I understand a hundred percent.“

Rose Mink and her son Mathew Mink both went to Reading High and now work there.

“I graduated from here in 1971 ... back then we just worried about snow days," Rose Mink said.

“I don’t even know how to respond to that. It is the first time I have ever heard anything like that. This is generally a nice community,” Mathew Mink said.

Mount Notre Dame High School was also closed in connection to the Reading threat, but freshmen will still attend their planned retreat. Staff will also report for work.



Most of the other recent clown threats recently have been made via social media.

No arrest has been made so far, police said.

Elsewhere, an Oakdale Elementary student told officials that someone dressed as a clown holding a knife chased her on her way to school. Police investigated the report and determined it was unfounded.

A Milford H.S. student was arrested Friday morning after allegedly making a copycat threat on social media.

Colerain police arrested a juvenile on Thursday in connection with a clown-related threat that was made for Friday.

Gallatin County authorities said Thursday that a high school student had admitted being involved in a threat made in that district.