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.

“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.

Related Stories
‹
Lockdown Lifted at CHCCS Elementary School
Officials said in an update at 11:50 a.m. Friday that the all clear had been given by Chapel Hill Police and the lockdown has been lifted. “No confirmation the reported sounds were actually gunshots, however we are keeping the students inside this afternoon & continuing with the regular school day.”**** ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ A Chapel Hill […]
Lockdown Lifted at Chapel Hill Elementary, Middle Schools After Report of Firearm Near Campuses
Chapel Hill authorities say that there was “no threat to the community” after a local elementary and middle school were forced into a lockdown Tuesday morning. Law enforcement officials were called to Phillips Middle and Estes Hills Elementary schools around 10 o’clock Tuesday morning responding to a report of a person with a firearm in […]
Honoring Chapel Hill's Black Builders: UNC Landmarks and the Local Faces Who Built Them
Maps are storytellers, but they can exclude certain narratives. Fowota Mortoo said that’s the case for Chapel Hill’s Black builders.
Uproar Festival of Public Art to Return to Orange County in August
The Uproar Festival of Public Art returns this August to showcase large-scale, bold works of art outdoors in Orange County.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to Affect Local Government Services (2025)
The observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Monday, January 20 will affect local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s what residents can expect this year: Town of Chapel Hill Town offices will be closed on Monday. Residential trash normally collected on Monday will be collected on Wednesday, January 22. Curbside recycling […]
Christmas Holiday to Affect Local Government Services in Orange County (2024)
The Christmas holiday will affect several local government services. Here’s a rundown of what Orange County residents can expect.
Thanksgiving Holiday to Affect Local Government Services in Orange County
Thanksgiving will fall on Thursday, Nov. 28 this year, and the holiday will affect several local government services around the Orange County community. Here’s a rundown of what residents can expect: Town of Chapel Hill Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29 are both town holidays. Residential trash collection will not be affected. However, there […]
Inter-City Visit 2024, Part 2: One Month Later
This year's Chamber Inter-City Visit brought local leaders to Ann Arbor to talk sustainability and housing - and maybe street performers.
Here Are Ways You Can Donate to Local Drives for Hurricane Helene Relief
After Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina last week, numerous local organizations, businesses and schools have set up donation drives to help those affected. Below is a list of drives around our area, in alphabetical order by the group: All About Insurance shifted its regular Sock-Tober clothing drive to exclusively support Hurricane Helene relief efforts. […]
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Holiday Parade Opens 2024 Participant Applications
Applications to participate in the 2024 Chapel Hill-Carrboro Community Holiday Parade are now open. The parade is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. “We’re looking for local organizations with diverse cultural, faith, and community traditions to participate,” read a release from the Town of Carrboro. “We hope you’ll consider […]
›