Crime & Safety
No Active Shooter Near U.S. 290: Austin Police
Austin Police Department debunks social media claims of shooter in area as Dripping Springs reports of police activity are confirmed.
AUSTIN TX — Law enforcement officials were quick to debunk social media claims of an active shooter near U.S. 290 in Austin on Thursday as Dripping Springs officials confirmed lock-down-causing school measures after police activity there.
Some Twitter users were spreading the false claim of an Austin shooter, prompting police to issue their tweet contradicting the claims. "APD is NOT working an active shooter incident (on or near 290) at this time," officials wrote on Twitter just after 4:15 p.m.
It's unclear why some Twitter users believed the unsubstantiated reports of a shooter.
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APD is NOT working an active shooter incident (on or near 290) at this time. -APD PIO
— Austin Police Dept (@Austin_Police) September 19, 2019
Separate reports of police activity in nearby Dripping Springs, however, were confirmed by school officials there. "There was a brief lockout (exterior doors locked) at Sycamore Springs Middle School this afternoon as a precaution due to police activity in the area," Dripping Springs ISD officials wrote on Twitter just before 4:10 p.m.. "The lockout has been lifted and all is clear."
There was a brief lockout (exterior doors locked) at Sycamore Springs Middle School this afternoon as a precaution due to police activity in the area. The lockout has been lifted and all is clear. #IamDSISD
— Dripping Springs ISD (@DSISD) September 19, 2019
Dripping Springs is located some 23 east of Austin via Highway 290.
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