St Croix schools deemed safe after false firearm report
The St Croix Educational Complex High School and St Croix Career and Technical Education campus, located on the US Virgin Islands, were thrust into a state of lockdown on Thursday, following safety concerns.
The Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) swiftly moved into action after receiving a concerning telephone call. The call detailed an alarming report of a student allegedly possessing a firearm on the school premises and displaying it to fellow students.
Reacting with utmost urgency, school officials immediately initiated a comprehensive lockdown procedure, prioritizing the safety and security of all individuals present within the campus confines.
Ensuring campus safety amidst uncertainty
As the situation unfolded, school authorities, in collaboration with law enforcement, activated stringent safety and security protocols. These measures were implemented to safeguard the well-being of students, faculty, and staff alike.
Concurrently, the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) undertook a thorough sweep of the campus, with focused attention on the specific classroom highlighted in the distress call made to 911.
Following an exhaustive safety inspection by the VIPD, school authorities were reassured by the issuance of an ‘all clear’ signal, affirming the absence of any discernible threat within the educational precincts.
Resumption of normalcy
With the security sweep concluded and the campus deemed secure, students at both educational institutions resumed their classes, striving to regain a semblance of normalcy after the unsettling disruption.
In the wake of the incident, VIDE emphasized the commencement of an investigation by the Virgin Islands Police Department to identify the individual responsible for instigating the false threat.
Expressing gratitude for the swift and decisive response of law enforcement, VIDE urged members of the community possessing pertinent information to come forward and assist authorities in their ongoing inquiry.
