Schools locked down, but student’s ‘firearm’ deemed a toy by police

Five Del Norte County schools went into lockdown Tuesday afternoon after students reported seeing another student brandishing a firearm.

“The student was eventually located and arrested on a juvenile warrant. Investigation revealed the firearm was likely a replica firearm and not a real firearm,” said Crescent City Police Sgt. Edward Wilson.

Both the police department and the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Department responded to the incident.

When the report came in, the high school went into lockdown, as well four surrounding schools, as a precautionary measure, according to Michael Hawkins, Del Norte Unified School District’s director of communications and outreach. The surrounding schools were Mary Peacock Elementary, Castle Rock Charter, Bess Maxwell Elementary and College of the Redwoods Del Norte campus.

After conducting a search and speaking with students, law-enforcement officials declared the students safe and said they believed the firearm was actually a toy. The students were released from lockdown at approximately 2:25 p.m.

The investigation is ongoing, according to Wilson.