The lockdown of Lincoln Middle School Tuesday afternoon was the result of a hoax, police and school officials said.
A caller, reportedly a female juvenile, reported that someone with a gun was on the campus near the end of the school day, but police set up a perimeter, searched the area and determined the report was bogus.
Lincoln students were escorted by police and school staff off campus to a staging area at the corner of Euclid Street and California Avenue. They were then released to their parents.
“The lockdown and the dismissal progressed smoothly,” Tim Walker, deputy superintendent of SMMUSD, said in a press release issued Tuesday night. “District administration was at the site, and communication was sent to all parents of Lincoln Middle School and John Adams Middle School by an automated dialing system.
“The collaborative efforts between the police, PTA, site and district staff focused on the safety and security of students and staff,” Walker wrote. “School will be in open tomorrow and additional staff will be on both sites to assist any children who require support to deal with the events of this afternoon.
“The District is thankful that no one was injured during the events of today and we will use this incident as a learning opportunity to ensure that all of our schools are even more prepared for any crisis.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 30, 2008. Read the original PDF.