Students dismissed early due to report of gun on campus

(4/27/07 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- Police are searching for someone who reportedly brought a gun to a school Friday morning. Students at Smiley High School were let out early after there was a reported bomb threat, followed by reports of a person walking around with a gun.

While K-9s units were brought in to sweep the school for any possible explosives, it was the information officials received after the scare they found most alarming. They learned someone who didn't belong on campus may have been seen walking around school grounds with a weapon.

Administrators notified parents immediately and instead of going into lockdown, school was dismissed.

"We wanted to err on the side of caution because of all the extenuating circumstances that have been going on in our country as a whole with the event up in Virginia Tech," said Denise Walker with the North Forest ISD. "We wanted to make sure our students were safe."

The district used its new phone messaging system to alert parents and the campus was cleared within an hour. We've learned police arrested a tenth grader, not in connection with Friday's incidents, but for an alleged threat made against the school on Tuesday.

It's not clear if police found anything inside the school when they searched. And they're still looking for the person who was seen walking around campus with a gun.

When students return to class on Monday, they'll have to enter through metal detectors.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

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