On Tuesday, reports of gunfire in a Grass Valley neighborhood near the 300 block of Pleasant Street briefly put Mount Saint Mary's and Bell Hill campuses on lockdown as police secured the area. Authorities later confirmed no one was hurt, and the lockdowns were lifted after officers determined there was no ongoing threat. The Grass Valley Police Department said patrol officers and detectives responded to a firearm discharge during a dispute, began interviewing witnesses, and continue to investigate the incident, as reported by FOX40.
Precautionary lockdowns and school safety
Administrators at Mount Saint Mary's and Bell Hill initiated a hold-and-secure while officers cleared Pleasant Street nearby, a standard precaution when shots are reported close to school grounds. Countywide guidance stresses drills, emergency messaging and tight coordination with law enforcement as key tools for keeping students safe during these kinds of incidents, according to the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools.
Police say no injuries; investigation continues
Police told FOX40 that no injuries were reported, and the campus lockdowns ended once officers confirmed there was no ongoing threat in the area. Similar precautionary campus lockouts have happened in the region before, for example, CBS Sacramento reported a 2025 incident that briefly put Nevada Union High School on lockdown after reports of a firearm nearby, highlighting how quickly schools and police move to secure local campuses when these calls come in.
Detectives remained on scene interviewing witnesses as they worked to piece together the sequence of events. For now, police say there is no ongoing threat to schools in the area while the investigation continues.
