On Friday afternoon, a tense cloud settled over Sharpstown International School and nearby Neff Elementary School as they were placed on lockdown, a reaction to a week riddled with threats following a tragic shooting in Georgia. According to Houston Chronicle, the lockdown was initiated after HISD police received a report that a student was allegedly in possession of a gun, a tip that came from another student at approximately 12:37 p.m.
Houston ISD had already ramped up security after a slew of threats across Texas. HISD communicated to parents as the situation developed, stating that an in-depth search of the premises yielded no firearms, curbing immediate fears but not the anxiety that has become the rhythm of our times, parents got a notification about an unsettling social media post earlier in the week. As reported in the Houston Chronicle, approximately 200 parents arrived to retrieve their children, met with a structured release procedure that aimed to maintain order amidst the fraught atmosphere.
Nearby Neff Elementary also swung into a "secure status" out of caution while the activities at Sharpstown were scrutinized, as indicated in a Facebook message from Neff's principal, Mahalet Negussie. The message assured that instruction continued and there was no direct threat to students. Meanwhile, unverified rumors like whispers of a shooting stirred panic, an issue that one parent, Marta Perez, highlighted when she described leaving her workplace in tears after receiving distressing texts from her children, as per the Houston Chronicle.
As detailed by ABC13, the heavy police presence surrounding Sharpstown International became a beacon for concerned families, some of whom were told to bide their time before they could reunite with their students. The school, which encompasses grades sixth through twelfth, and enrolls about 1,200 students, was scrutinized by the HISD police and HPD. They investigated the potential threat, eventually deeming it unconfirmed by late afternoon but not before a ripple of fear washed over the community.
Despite the disconcerting events, which echo too familiarly across school communities nationwide, there were no injuries reported and HISD remained communicative with families. A statement gathered by Houston Chronicle from HISD highlighted the district's decision to keep the campus in a security hold as the investigation continued, reassuring the safety of both students and staff. This stance was echoed by HISD in their afternoon message, "Students and staff are safe and there have been no injuries reported. Out of an abundance of caution the campus was placed on lockdown throughout the investigation and remains in a security hold."
