Reports of Shots Fired at EWHS Turn Out to be False

A 911 call reporting that shots had been fired today at Edmonds-Woodway High School has determined to be a hoax.

Police from Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace arrived at the school minutes after the 11:35 call, said Sgt. Mike Blackburn of the Edmonds Police Department. DJ Jakala, spokeswoman for the Edmonds School District, said the school was placed in a lockdown while police entered the building to investigate. College Place Middle School and College Place and Chase Lake elementaries were also locked down as a precautionary measure.

Blackburn said that a male identifying himself by first name only called 911 on a cell phone to report a disturbance at the school.  Edmonds Police officers arrived and entered the school within three minutes to determine there was no problem at the school. 

“We take this kind of situation very seriously,” said Jakala. “We will be in close contact with the police for any updates.”

Jakala said the students and faculty acted about as well as expected. There have been at the school this year, in January and February. Both times, Edmonds Police were responding to robberies at Edmonds Pharmacy, which is directly across 212th St. Southwest from the school.

“Students and teachers responded appropriately,” Jakala said. “They were reminded to stay where they were and let the police do their work.”

Police had not apprehended a suspect. “We are extending our investigation in order to track down the caller,” said Blackburn.

He added that filing a false report is a crime.