For about 40 tense minutes on Tuesday afternoon, the usually quiet North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics campus in Durham turned into a full-on police scene after a report of an active shooter sent the school into lockdown. Students and staff were ordered to shelter in classrooms and residence halls while officers swept the downtown campus and nearby buildings. The search turned up no injuries and no apparent threat.
Officers Sweep Campus, Find No Signs of Danger
Law enforcement converged along Broad Street and around the Club Boulevard entrance as Durham police and sheriff's deputies went room to room through academic buildings and dorms. The response began around 1:30 p.m., and the lockdown stretched for roughly 40 minutes while officers methodically cleared the area. School leaders told WRAL that officers "found no signs of danger" once the search was complete, according to WRAL.
Jordan High Tightens Security While Police Investigate
As a precaution, C.E. Jordan High School nearby went into a secure status while investigators worked around the NCSSM campus. Parents and staff were notified, and traffic around both schools slowed under the weight of the emergency response. No weapon or specific threat was found on NCSSM grounds, and no arrests were reported, per WRAL.
What Campus Protocols And State Rules Require In A Scare
NCSSM operates a 24/7 Campus Safety office and relies on email, text and public-address alerts to reach students and families when an emergency hits, according to NCSSM. State law and guidance encourage schools to run regular lockdown drills and to coordinate closely with local law enforcement in situations like Tuesday's, as outlined by the North Carolina General Assembly.
Once officers finished clearing the campus, NCSSM resumed classes and notified families through its emergency alert system. Durham police have not announced any arrests or charges tied to the incident.
