Hoax Puts Carriage Crest In Lockdown

A student prank resulted in a lockdown and massive police response at Carriage Crest Elementary School today.

Fourty-two cars from eight different law enforcement agencies responded to the school today after a report surfaced of a gunman on campus, said Chris Loftis, executive director of communications for the Kent School District.

The school was immediately locked down, starting at approximately 1:10 p.m., today, Friday, Sept. 30. The lockdown was lifted at about 1:50 p.m.

"We had a very large response," he said.

Sergeant Jim Laing confirmed that the response was due to a hoax. Using a phone at the school, a student reported someone in the bathroom with a gun, he said.

Officers responded and searched the school "room-by-room." The student caller has been identified, he said.

Loftis added that one officer stayed at the school until class let out, parents picked up their children, and all students were loaded on to the school buses.

Parents were notified after school, but not before then, he said.

"It's very quiet here now," he said.