UPDATED: Redwood City High School Briefly Evacuated After Gun Scare

By Renee Schiavone (Patch Staff)

UPDATE 1:30 P.M.:

Redwood City Deputy Police Chief Gary Kirby tells Patch that Monday’s incident unfolded after a student reported hearing gunshots on campus-- but those really turned out to be balloons popping in a science experiment.

Kirby said several Redwood City police units, along with a sheriff’s helicopter from Napa and the local SWAT team all responded to Summit Preparatory Charter High School following the initial 911 call which was placed around 9:30 a.m. Monday.

A student called for help after hearing what he thought was gunfire, while he was in the restroom, Kirby said.

“He heard what he though were gunshots,” Kirby told Patch by phone Monday afternoon.

At that point, the school initiated a “code red” alert for a possible active shooter, not wanting to risk anything.

“Then, as we’re responding, we’re told someone did see a gun,” Kirby told Patch.

As more officers were arriving on scene and nearly 350 students and 40 staff members were evacuated, police were able to speak with the student who first reported the sounds.

Kirby says that through talking to that student, and with other students and teachers, they eventually determined that the sounds were connected to a science experiment on campus which involved the popping of several balloons, as well as nearby construction activity.

“That could at a distance sound like gunshots to an untrained ear,” Kirby said.

“Where the gun observation report came from, no one could find out,” he added.

UPDATE 1 P.M.:

Police say that students are now back in their classrooms at Summit Preparatory Charter High School following a police investigation at the charter school’s campus.

“There is no confirmed gunman, or shooting and there are no injuries to report,” according to an updated police statement.

All students and staff have been accounted for, police said. Though no one was hurt by any violence at the school, the apparent stress caused by the situation got to one student.

“One person was treated for anxiety symptoms at the school and this is unrelated to the police investigation,” police said.

Parents with questions are asked to call call Summit School representative Mira Brown at 917-319-5634.

ORIGINAL STORY AS FOLLOWS:

Redwood City police said they were evacuating a local high school Monday, after reports of a safety incident.

According to an alert issued by the agency, RCPD is investigating a “safety incident” at Summit Preparatory Charter High School.

“The school is being evacuated at this time based on a 9-1-1 call,” police said at 11:22 a.m.

“There is no confirmed gunman, or shooting and there are no injuries to report,” they added.

Because of the activity at the school, southbound Broadway at Woodside Road is closed until Mills, and Charter is closed from Bay to Broadway, police said.

Joe Witherspoon with Motostrano, a bicycle and motorcycle shop at 926 Broadway, said around 11:10 a.m. that police had shut down the intersection in front of the school and that officers had pointed guns and rifles at the school campus.

“They’re evacuating students with their hands in the air,” Witherspoon said. “It’s kind of scary.”

Patch will update this breaking news story as more details become available.

– Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

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