Students and faculty at Foley High School are all safe after the school on Thursday was placed on lockdown.
According to a statement from Foley High School Principal Jessica Webb, the Foley Police Department and Baldwin County Sheriff’s office responded to the lockdown procedure Thursday morning.
“This morning, Foley High School was placed on lockdown,” Webb said. Foley Police Department, along with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department, responded.
“The campus has been secured and all students are safe. Please do not attempt to approach the campus until we have removed the security perimeter. We will provide additional information before noon.”
The school began dismissing students at noon following the incident.
After the dismissal process a press conference was held at the school where more information was provided about what prompted the lockdown. The conference featured Webb, Foley Police Chief Thurston Bullock and Baldwin County Schools Superintendent Eddie Collar.
According to several Facebook posts from concerned parents, there was allegedly a fight that broke out and a student pulled a gun, but no shots were fired. However, Webb said that there was no gun or fight.
“We have not confirmed anything about a fight nor a gun,” Bullock said.
A teacher overheard a student mention a weapon as students were changing classes and proceeded to put the school into lockdown. During transition 1,600 students can be in the hallways.
“I don’t want to say the exact thing that the teacher overheard but what the teacher overheard they felt like they heard something that was about a weapon,” Webb said. “It was never the word gun. And it alarmed them enough to push their lockdown button.”
Bullock stated that the preliminary investigation is done regarding the school and feel that the school is safe. He also said the department did not confirm a gun being on campus or fight breaking out. One student was brought in for questioning according to Bullock.
The incident comes as Alabama schools statewide have been plagued by threats, several of which led to arrests, in the week since a deadly Georgia school shooting.
On Wednesday, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a student had a handgun at Clay-Chalkville High School.
The school resource officer quickly took possession of the gun, and the 16-year-old boy was taken into custody.
