The announcement that interrupted fifth period classes was sudden, unexpected, and altered the classroom focus.
The alert status could have been applied for many reasons, ranging from a student having a seizure to a bomb threat in school.
However, the severity of the situation escalated when armed police officers were seen patrolling the hallways by students hidden in dark classes behind locked doors.
On February 27, the school was notified of a possible armed suspect on campus. Although the teachers and students were not aware of the actual situation, Coach Jimmy Jester’s fifth period World History class experienced first hand the consequences the 15-year-old sophomore suspect would face.
“I was freaking out, thinking of the worst possible things that could happen,” said junior Tiffany Ray.
During the alert status, six armed officers entered the World History class in search of the student who had supposedly brought a gun to school.
Junior Nic Franco was unaware that the armed suspect was a student, and thought that the alert status was a drill or false alarm.
“I thought they were going classroom to classroom making sure everyone was safe, until they told a student next to me not to move, to put their hands in the air, and to come with them,” said Franco.
After the student was removed from the class, the severity of the threat filled the dimly lit room with silence and nervous tension.
Franco described himself as “uneasy” following the incident.
“I was like, this is crazy. She was sitting right next to me and could have had a weapon,” said Franco.
Sophomore Kaylee Cardenas had been sitting next to the student and was told by the student that she had brought a gun to school and that someone had picked it up, just moments into the alert status.
“I didn’t read much into it, not wanting to get involved. When they took her it made a little sense that someone had probably said something,” said Cardenas.
Cardenas’ lack of concern stemmed from her belief that the student wouldn’t have hurt anyone and had no reason to have a gun.
However, Ray had never spoken to the student, and was nervous in fear of someone being harmed.
“I was just thinking of all the possible things she could’ve done. I didn’t know if someone was trying to hurt her or if she was the one trying to hurt someone,” said Ray.
Throughout the 70-minute alert status, officers thoroughly searched the building and received no physical evidence that there had been or was still a weapon on campus.
There were other students taken out of class to reveal information about the student’s motives, but rumors concerning the weapon being passed between affiliated students were never confirmed. The student was charged with Disorderly Conduct for creating a public disturbance and whether or not she will return to classes has not been released.
“If there is no evidence that she is threatening, or that she is dangerous, then I have no problems with her returning to school,” said Franco.