GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — School officials put West Middle School in Greenwood Village on lockdown status Tuesday due to what authorities said was a false alarm.
Several agencies responded to the school, located at 5151 S. Holly Street, around 1 p.m. after a panic alarm was tripped. However, it was later discovered that the alarm was false, according to South Metro Fire Rescue.
"There are no reports of injuries. All emergency personnel and LE on scene will follow standard protocols to active threat in clearing building and ensure its safe and is indeed a false alarm and area is secure. Please avoid the area," South Metro Fire Rescue tweeted.
GVPD, area law enforcement and emergency service providers have responded to west middle school on a report of an active threat. All indication at this point in time lead us to believe that the alarm is false. There are no reports of injuries. All emergency personnel and LE on… pic.twitter.com/vKnAAfm96g
— South Metro Fire Rescue (@SouthMetroPIO) January 30, 2024
Monica Garcia, the principal at the school, told parents in a letter that a technician working on the school's electrical system accidentally triggered the alarm.
After the alarm was triggered, officials put the school on lockdown. The lockdown was later lifted and the school was placed on a "hold" status while law enforcement and security clear classrooms, the school district said in a news release.
"Law enforcement and district security responded quickly and staff followed all lockdown procedures. Law enforcement were quickly able to determine there was no actual threat. The school was taken off lockdown and placed on a hold while law enforcement and security continued clearing all classrooms, as is our normal practice with lockdowns," Garcia wrote.
She said the reports of an individual with a weapon outside the school were misleading. That individual was a law enforcement officer responding to the situation, Garcia wrote in the letter.
