Patrick County High School was in temporary “lockdown” mode March 30 after school officials received false information about shots being fired in the school, according to Sheriff Dan Smith.
The information came from a tip line to WDBJ TV in Roanoke, Smith said.
Numerous deputies went to the high school and checked everything out, but found no shooters and no problems, the sheriff said.
“We responded quickly to the school, searched and determined that no shots had been fired,” Smith said.
The school system followed protocol and shut the school down until information was received that the report was unfounded, Smith said.
Smith said the day before, there was a report, also unfounded, that there was a shooting at Patrick Henry High School, and that may have added to the confusion.
“I’m pleased with the quick response and how we were able to defuse the situation,” Smith said. “The cooperation between the sheriff’s office and the school system returned everything to normal quickly, and the students were released at the regular time.”
