Investigation underway after ‘bogus’ report puts FCPS school on lockdown

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - An investigation is underway after school officials say they received a report Wednesday morning of a possible student who might have been armed barricading themself in a room at Frederick Douglass High School. We’re told the school immediately went on lockdown as a precaution.

“The room number given to us does not even exist. It’s not an actual room at Frederick Douglass. So immediately, there were some inconsistencies in the story,” said Fayette County Public Schools Chief of Police Martin Schaefer.

However, law enforcement still responded as though there was a possible active shooter situation within the school.

“We have police officers in the building. So quickly, we realized that the report was false. There was no active situation at all,” said Chief Schaefer.

FCPS officials say the report was confirmed as “bogus.” The school still remained in lockdown until officers checked every room in the building.

“There’s not any area of the building that doesn’t go unsearched and the campus inside the building, outside the building, before that is lifted,” said Chief Schaefer.

Meanwhile, concerned parents flocked to the school. Wanderlin Hidalgo was among those parents on the scene. She spoke with her daughter over the phone during the lockdown.

“No. No, it isn’t okay. We didn’t know what was happening inside. We didn’t know if everything was okay in the room. We just didn’t know what was happening,” said Hidalgo.

The lockdown has since been lifted. Chief Schaefer says they were able to handle the situation quickly. The original call came in to Lexington Police shortly after 9 a.m. and the lockdown was lifted before 10 a.m. Once the lockdown was lifted, officers allowed parents onto school property. At that time they were able to take their children home if they’d like.

FCPS says there was never any danger.

School officials released this statement about the incident:

“There is no safety threat and no students are in danger. All FCPS schools are safe and have no threat issues.”

“If students wish to leave FDHS before the end of the day, they must leave with their parents. It will be considered an excused absence, only with a parent note. They can select the reason, as we offer sick and mental health days as excused options. Students are encouraged to stay and complete the day, as classes and all activities have resumed.”

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