SHORELINE — Schools in the Shoreline district were locked down for about two hours Wednesday after a school employee reported seeing a man carrying a rifle near a school. No gunman was found, and the superintendent said classes will resume Thursday.
The district decided to close its schools for the rest of Wednesday after the lockdown was lifted, King County sheriff’s Sgt. DB Gates said.
In a statement posted on the Shoreline Public Schools website, Superintendent Rebecca Miner said Shoreline schools plan a normal schedule Thursday. Three police agencies plan to have enhanced patrols focusing on the schools, Miner said.
The investigation continues, but no suspect has been identified or arrested, Gates said. The employee was only able to provide a general description of a male wearing a dark hoodie and camouflage pants.
District spokesman Craig Degginger said the employee called 911 and the district closed all its schools while sheriff’s deputies looked for the man. Schools were closed from just before 8 a.m. to just after 10 a.m.
The district said students were safe during the search. Students who were on buses were taken to the Spartan Recreation Center where they could be picked up.
The district includes 14 schools and a preschool. Degginger said both high schools had already opened when the incident began. Other students were on their way to school and some were still at home.
Degginger said the district’s emergency procedures worked well, and he gave credit to the employees who acted quickly.
“The training really kicks right in. People did what they were supposed to do,” he said.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
