Dispute In Columbia Puts School On Lockdown: Official

COLUMBIA, MD — Swansfield Elementary School was placed on a modified lockdown Tuesday due to an off-campus incident. School officials notified families that Swansfield had also asked for assistance from the Howard County Police Department out of an abundance of caution. Police were present for dismissal to ensure everyone's safety, officials reported.

The incident that prompted the lockdown was an off-campus domestic dispute that involved a Swansfield Elementary School family, according to authorities.

"Students and staff are safe, and we are taking the appropriate steps to support the family that is in distress," Swanfield Elementary School Principal Laurel Porter said in a statement.

The lockdown began at 10:30 a.m. and was still in effect as of 11:30 a.m., according to notifications from the school.

When a school is in a modified lockdown, students are not allowed to leave the building. All activities inside the building continue as usual, and recess is held inside, according to officials.

"As always, the safety and well-being of our students and staff are our highest priority. I am extremely proud of the way our staff and students are handling this situation," Porter wrote. "We will be following regular dismissal procedures this afternoon. As a precautionary measure, Howard County police will continue to be present during dismissal."