No Threat Found After Active Shooter Report Prompts Quick Response
Santa Monica High School (SaMoHi) went into lockdown Tuesday afternoon following a report of an active shooter that was later determined to be a false alarm, according to police and school officials.
Around 2:30 p.m., the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) issued a statement indicating that the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) had responded to a report of an active shooter on campus. School officials assured the community that students and staff were safe and secure while police assessed the situation.
Approximately 10 minutes later, the SMPD confirmed via social media that the alert was a false alarm. “SMPD officers responded to a report of suspicious activity on the high school campus. As a precaution, students were sheltering in place. It was determined to be a false alarm. Officers are conducting a thorough search to ensure everyone’s safety,” the statement read.
Police emphasized that there was no threat to the school and no injuries were reported. Students and staff remained sheltered in place during the incident as officers completed a thorough sweep of the campus to ensure security.
SMMUSD spokeswoman Gail Pinsker said, in an emailed statement, “We appreciate the immediate response by the Santa Monica Police Department to the situation at Samohi today on the ground and through other communication platforms. Samohi students were very orderly, and cooperative and followed directions well from staff and administration during the lockdown. We appreciate the support of our local law enforcement agency in protecting our staff and students and their quick and thorough investigation of the incident that turned out to be a false alarm. We are relieved with this outcome as the safety and health of our students and staff are our top priorities.”
