Police Say There Was No Gunman Tuesday at Maury Elementary

There never was any gunman Tuesday at Maury Elementary, police said this afternoon.

After a thorough investigation, Alexandria Police say the reports of a subject brandishing a weapon toward school children, were false. The report led all 17 schools in the city to lock their doors and keep students inside for the day as a security precaution.

“It has been determined that the reports were false,” Alexandria Police said Thursday in a news release. “Given the number of weapons violations that occur at schools across the nation, the Police Department takes reports of this nature seriously and responds accordingly.”

The Alexandria Police Department, along with Alexandria City Public Schools, immediately responded to this incident and both agencies are pleased with the quick resolution to a potentially dangerous situation, police said in the news release.

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Alvin Crawley Thursday praised Alexandria police for their quick action on Tuesday in light of reports of a man with a weapon near one of the city’s schools. “The police have now determined that the reports were false and that the incident did not occur,” he said in a news release.

Crawley heralded the close coordination with the Alexandria Police Department that occurred on Tuesday as the schools went into a “locked-in” situation and the police sought to locate the suspect. “The safety and security of our students remains a top priority, and we want to thank our staff and community for their support throughout this investigation,” he said.

School and police officials indicated that they are pleased with the quick resolution to a potentially dangerous situation and noted that the frequent drills and preparations for emergency situations paid off.

In light of the incident, the school division has issued a set of Emergency Guidelines that include a card that can easily be included in wallets so that parents and guardians can refer to it in the event of emergency situations.

PHOTO: Police helped with dismissal Tuesday at Maury Elementary in Alexandria after reports by students that a gunman had pointed a long gun at them while they were outside. Police now say those reports were false. (Alexandria Police Department photo)