Hoax Puts Hollywood High School On Lockdown

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Hollywood High School was on lockdown and some students were forced to shelter in place while police respond to a false report of a possible shooting at the campus at North Highland Avenue.

Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said the incident is being considered a "hoax."

"Recent reports of a critical incident at Hollywood High School are unfounded and, after swift law enforcement response and internal individual classroom verification, we are deeming the incident as a hoax," Carvalho wrote on Twitter.

Streets surrounding the high school were being shut down while officers searched the campus.

It looks like a false report of a shooter on the campus, Los Angeles Police Department spokesman Drake Madison said at about 10:30 a.m. Tuesday

School police WERE on the scene, searching the campus, Madison added.

Police were called to the campus to respond to reports of a shooting with multiple victims, but a search of the campus yielded no evidence of a shooting, said Madison.

In a separate statement on Twitter, the LAUSD said:

"There were unfounded reports of gun shots fired on campus at Hollywood High School today. All students and staff are safe and school will resume as normal.

"Non-credible school hoaxes are a serious offense that Los Angeles Unified takes seriously. Threats disrupt the educational environment, increase stress levels, and interfere with law enforcement's ability to protect schools from real dangers. It also poses a serious risk to our community, draining resources and occupying the time of critical first responders."

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY. PLEASE REFRESH THE SCREEN FOR UPDATES.

City News Service contributed to this report.