College Locked Down When Tree Branch Is Mistaken For A Rifle

VALENCIA , CA — A report of a woman walking on campus at College of the Canyons armed with a rifle prompted the lockdown of the school in Valencia Wednesday evening, but it turned out that she was just carrying a tree branch, authorities said.

The lockdown came as the community was on edge, the day after two Los Angeles County colleges were locked down following a telephoned shooting threat. In that case, police arrested a man for allegedly threatening a school shooting.

On Wednesday, Deputies were called to the campus in the 26400 block of Rockwell Canyon Road just before 5 p.m. to investigate, according to the Sheriff's Information Bureau. The person who made the report thought they saw a woman getting a rifle out of a tree and then going into the campus, according to the sheriff's department.

"Through investigation, it was determined that a woman took tree branches from a tree," according to a sheriff's department statement. "Better safe, than sorry."

The college advised people to shelter in place in a tweeting sent out at about 5:15 p.m. Another tweet 10 minutes later, the school added: "Stay off campus if you are not already here."

Only one report of a possible woman with a rifle was received, according to the sheriff's department, which reported that deputies were conducting safety checks of campus buildings.

Rockwell Canyon Road was closed near the campus due to the investigation, the sheriff's department reported.

About 200 staff and 2,000 students sheltered in place on the campus until about 6:15 p.m. when the lockdown was lifted, officials said.

Evening classes at the campus were canceled, although classes at the college's Canyon Country campus were continuing as scheduled, the college announced.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.