Huntsville school temporarily put on lockdown while police respond to sounds of gunfire nearby

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (KBTX) - The Huntsville Police Department is investigating possible shots being fired near Huntsville Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon.

Police say the shots were heard in the area of Essex Boulevard south of the elementary school.

Several law enforcement officers responded to the area to investigate but said there was no indication that the shots came from the school campuses.

Additional police resources were sent to those schools and the surrounding area.

The following statement was shared by Huntsville ISD:

Huntsville ISD Parents/Guardians,

This afternoon at approximately 3:30 pm, Huntsville Elementary School staff were preparing for after-school dismissal when they heard what sounded like gunshots and screaming in the nearby neighborhood.  They immediately returned inside and notified campus administration while everyone was brought back indoors.  The police were notified and Huntsville Elementary went into a LOCKDOWN status.  Due to the close proximity to the campus, HISD Transportation and the Hawkins Administration Building also went into LOCKDOWN status.  Huntsville High School went into a HOLD status as a precautionary measure on the advice of law enforcement.  By 3:50 pm, law enforcement gave the " all clear” and all locations returned to normal operations. This brief LOCKDOWN/HOLD incident did cause a delay to our afternoon bus routes. We appreciate the swift action taken by our campus administrators and School Resources Officers and we are very thankful for the quick response from our local law enforcement agencies.  We are very proud of the way our students and staff responded today by following our emergency procedures.  Per the district’s Standard Response Protocol for emergency situations, when a campus or facility is placed on emergency status, there are specific actions to follow.  To learn more about our protocols, please visit https://www.huntsville-isd.org/safety.Student and staff safety is our top priority and we will always exercise great caution to help keep everyone safe.  Thank you for your cooperation and understanding today.  If your child expresses any concerns, or you have questions, please feel free to contact their school counselor.

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