Chapel Hill Police are now providing more information regarding a lockdown at Culbreth Middle School Thursday as students were being released early due to the Hurricane Dorian.
Police responded to the school just after 12:15 p.m. Thursday “due to a report of a subject wearing a mask and possibly carrying a firearm” near the school, authorities said on Friday.
The dispatch corresponded with students being dismissed early as the school district closed three hours early Thursday because of the impending threat from Hurricane Dorian.
Authorities said Friday that the school was placed on lockdown while the investigation was carried out. Police found the individual who was the cause of concern and determined “the individual had been removing personal belongings from a vehicle and put the mask on rather than carrying it.”
“There was no firearm involved,” police added, “and it was determined that there was no threat to the school or neighborhood at any time.”
Parents expressed concern over a lack of notification regarding the lockdown.
We have been told there was a brief lockdown due to a report of a suspicious person near the school. Police investigated and found nothing in the area, according to district officials, and the lockdown was lifted.
— WCHL & Chapelboro (@WCHLChapelboro) September 5, 2019
“If there was an active threat, school system and Town of Chapel Hill communication channels would be utilized to inform parents and people in the community of actions needed to be taken,” law enforcement officials said Friday.
Officers did remain on the scene to assist with student release following the lockdown due to traffic congestion at the scene.
Schools were also delayed on Friday as the hurricane threatened central North Carolina overnight Thursday into Friday.
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