No threat found at East Valley high school after lockdown, police say

PHOENIX — An East Valley high school was placed on lockdown Friday afternoon after a student called 911 and reported a shooting, but it turned out to be a hoax.

The lockdown at Apache Junction High School, which lasted about an hour, was lifted by 3 p.m.

Capt. Arnold Freeman of the Apache Junction Police Department said a male student, age 15 or 16, made the call from a classroom.

The student was detained, and criminal charges were pending, Freeman said.

Freeman said 20 other students who were in the room were being interviewed about their role, if any, in the incident.

Students are being released from Apache Junction High School after being placed on lockdown due to a reported threat on campus: https://t.co/4dPlBr23kv #abc15 pic.twitter.com/PLWI3f6JBo

— ABC15 Arizona (@abc15) December 14, 2018

Approximately 1,1000 students attend the school at Southern Avenue and Ironwood Drive.

As a precaution, Cactus Canyon Junior High School, The Learning Center and the district office also were locked down while police were investigating the high school.

Jennifer Cruz, assistant superintendent of the Apache Junction Unified School District, praised the police for their response.

“We know that today is the sixth anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting, and it weighs heavily on our hearts,” she said. “And this isn’t funny.”

All of the students were safe, school spokeswoman Sally Marks said, adding that there would be delays in getting them home on school buses.

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