Obsidian Middle School goes into lockdown after report student talked of having gun; none found

(Update; Adding video, school district comment)

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Obsidian Middle School in southwest Redmond went into lockdown "out of an abundance of caution" for about an hour late Wednesday morning after staff received a report of a student on campus talking about having a gun, but police found no evidence of a gun on campus and no arrests were made, officials said.

The lockdown, in which students and staff must stay in place and all interior and exterior doors are locked, began around 11:30 a.m. and was lifted roughly an hour later, school district spokeswoman Sheila Miller said.

At about 12:20 p.m., the school district said in an update, "Police are on scene and confirm there are no credible threats or injuries to any students or staff.

"Obsidian Middle School remains in lockdown as the investigation continues," the initial update continued. "The building is secure, and police are on scene. Families are asked to stay away from the school while police do their work. We will be in touch with more information as soon as we can."

Less than 30 minutes later came this second update:

"Obsidian Middle School has moved from lockdown to secure. Law enforcement will remain on scene through the end of the day. There will be a staggered release of students at the normal Wednesday early release time. You can come to the school to pick up your child at normal pickup time – please be patient as students will be released to their families or buses by classroom and there may be some delay. After-school activities will take place as normal."

Miller said it was important for the district to get as much information out as soon as possible.

"We know that families are desperate for information, these are their kids and they care deeply about those kids in the schools and we do too," she said. "We have to make our first priority making sure that the students and staff inside that building are safe."

The district later issued a news release about the incident, which said in part:

"Students took part in a staggered release from their classrooms at the normal Wednesday early release time, 1:15 p.m. Police determined after-school activities could safely continue at the school.

"At this time, there is no known threat to students or staff at Obsidian Middle School. No arrests were made. There are no injuries, and all students and staff are safe.

"Redmond Police, aided by school staff, conducted a thorough sweep of the building and spoke to students who may have known about the reported weapon on campus. No evidence of a firearm on campus was found.

"A lockdown occurs when a threat happens inside of the school facility. When this happens, our school and classroom doors lock, lights are turned off and students are asked to remain quiet while the threat is addressed by law enforcement. We train on a regular basis with students and staff using the I Love U Guys Foundation Standard Response Protocol.

"Lockdowns can be traumatic for students and staff, and we will have additional counseling resources available at school tomorrow. We appreciate how responsive and attentive to safety our students and staff were during this event, and continue to encourage anyone who notices suspicious behavior to share their concerns with a trusted adult." 

Miller earlier explained to NewsChannel 21 that "secure means school goes back to business as usual," meaning interior doors are no longer locked but exterior doors remain locked.

The school district posted information on the lockdown on its Facebook page and text, email and phone messages went out to parents of the school's 600 students on the situation.

"We know that families are desperate for information," Miller said. "These are their kids, and they care deeply about those kids in the schools -- and we do too. We have to make our first priority making sure that the students and staff inside that building."

And in those frantic early minutes, the call for parents to stay away can be frustrating, she acknowledged.

"As much as we know families want to respond to the school and be here, we ask them to stay away from the school. I know that's hard, but it's for us to allow the police to do the work that they need to do."