Frederick County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a sweep of the school building.
Frederick, Md (KM) There was some excitement at Tuscarora High School Thursday afternoon. Spokesman Todd Wivell with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office says an individual from Colorado contacted a crisis hotline–not in Frederick County–and said a person was standing outside the school with a weapon and a bomb. The hotline sent that message to Frederick County Emergency Communications.
Wivell says deputies quickly responded to Tuscarora High shortly after 1:00 PM. . The school was put on a “”secure” status where all students must remain inside the school building and all outside doors are locked. “And then a little bit later, we went into a hold status,”: he said. “During that status, all students and staff remain in the room or area where they’re located and hallways are kept clear until an ‘all clear’ is announced.”
Wivell says a search was conducted of the building.
Authorities determined that the reports a person with a weapon and a bomb were unfounded. “This kind of stuff, unfortunately, happens across the nation. It’s a shame that people do this. But we in the Sheriff’s Office, and Frederick County Public Schools and Frederick City Police we all treat every one of these things like it’s the real deal. And we never take them for granted and we respond every time like it happens,” says Wivell.
He pointed out that this incident at Tuscarora High School took place on the same day as a shooting at a high school in Iowa. In that incident, a 17-year-old student armed with a shotgun and a handgun opened fire at Perry High School, killing a sixth grader, and wounding five others, including a school administrator. Authorities say the student was found dead with an apparent, self-inflicted gunshot wound.
By Kevin McManus