Hillside High School in Durham went into lockdown Tuesday afternoon after staff received a tip that a student might be carrying a weapon. The move kept students and employees inside for about an hour while law enforcement combed classrooms and common areas. Once the search wrapped up, the campus was cleared and students began heading home in the late afternoon with no injuries reported.
What officials said
The lockdown started at 3:38 p.m., according to an official who spoke with ABC11. The Durham County Sheriff's Office told WRAL that deputies searched the building and surrounding grounds but did not find any weapons. Students were released just before 4:30 p.m., and authorities did not announce any arrests or charges connected to the incident.
Campus context
This is not the first safety scare Hillside has weathered this school year. In March, a chaotic cafeteria incident involving a trash-can fire and pepper spray left multiple people sickened. The school also experienced several lockdowns in 2025, and those repeat disruptions have kept school-safety debates active among families and Durham Public Schools leaders. Students and parents say the frequent precautions are frustrating but see them as part of the district’s effort to limit risks on a campus that has seen its share of scares.
What families should know
District officials share confirmed updates and guidance for families on the Durham Public Schools website, along with automated calls, texts, or emails after a lockdown. Parents are urged to rely on those official channels rather than social media chatter. Anyone who was on campus during Tuesday’s lockdown or who has information about the original tip is encouraged to contact local law enforcement instead of circulating unverified details online.
