JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — More than 20 schools in Jefferson County were on lockout Thursday morning after authorities investigated a claim of explosive devices inside Columbine High School.
Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the area after the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received a call around 9:20 a.m. from somebody claiming there were multiple explosive devices inside the school, said Mike Taplin, public information officer with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
“The person claimed to be outside hiding with a gun,” he said. “The perimeter was searched and secured. No one was found.”
So far, authorities have not found anything to validate the threats that were made, Taplin said at a press conference. The JeffCo Sheriff's Office gave the high school the all-clear around 12:20 p.m. The lockouts at all of the schools were lifted by 12:45 p.m., with the exception of Columbine.
All schools in the
Schools in the Columbine, Chatfield and Dakota Ridge areas were placed on lockout, meaning nobody was allowed to enter or exit the schools, according to JeffCo Public Schools. That includes the following schools:
- Columbine High School
- Columbine Hills Elementary School
- Dutch Creek Elementary School
- Governor's Ranch Elementary School
- Ken Caryl Middle School
- Leawood Elementary School
- Normandy Elementary School
- Blue Heron Elementary School
- Colorow Elementary School
- Dakota Ridge Senior High School
- Mount Carbon Elementary School
- Powderhorn Elementary School
- Summit Ridge Middle School
- Westridge Elementary School
- Bradford K8 North
- Bradford K8 South
- Chatfield High School
- Coronado Elementary School
- Deer Creek Middle School
- Falcon Bluffs Middle School
- Mortensen Elementary School
- Shaffer Elementary School
- Stony Creek Elementary School
- Ute Meadows Elementary School
JeffCo Sheriff’s Office said parents of Columbine students are not allowed to pick up their students until 2:45 p.m., when they will be released in a controlled release, or in waves. The school will stay on lockout until then. The sheriff’s office will help facilitate dismissal, Taplin said.
Several roads in the areas were closed.
“Unfortunately, we receive many threats like this to Columbine,” Taplin said. “We respond to each threat appropriately, which is what we’re doing now.”
The investigation is ongoing. Taplin said they are trying to identify the caller and their location.
He said authorities are asking people to stay out of the area.
Huge police presence at Columbine High School. Multiple roads shutdown. Waiting for more information from police PIO. @DenverChannel pic.twitter.com/CFisoU2CS7
— Jennifer Kovaleski (@JennKovaleski) December 13, 2018
