Walter Reed Middle School Lockdown Lifted After Hoax Call

Friday morning at Walter Reed Middle School in North Hollywood started with a scare and ended with a quick all-clear after a bogus report of a gunman on campus briefly sent the school into lockdown.

Los Angeles Police Department officers responded after a caller claimed there was a man with a gun at the school. Officers searched the campus, found no threat and cleared the area. Administrators reopened the school at 9:18 a.m., and regular classes picked back up, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.

ABC7 reported that the lockdown began shortly before 9 a.m. in the 4500 block of Irvine Avenue, just south of the 101 Freeway. In a notice to families, the principal said "the campus will remain on 'lockdown' until law enforcement gives the 'all-clear' to re-open the campus" and emphasized that staff were following district safety procedures. LAPD later determined the report was unfounded and said the call appeared to be a swatting incident.

Where the lockdown happened

Walter Reed is part of the Los Angeles Unified School District's North region, and the district site lists the campus at LAUSD as 4525 Irvine Ave in North Hollywood. The school page and events calendar confirm the campus location and contact information for families.

Part of a string of hoax threats

The scare at Walter Reed was not an isolated incident. Hoax or "swatting" calls have prompted precautionary lockdowns across Los Angeles in recent weeks. NBC Los Angeles reported a similar swatting call that briefly locked down a Cypress Park middle school on April 30, and an Encino swatting scare drew a heavy LAPD response last month.

How schools handle threats

Los Angeles Unified guidance says a lockdown may be initiated by school police, local law enforcement or a school principal when there is a threat of gunfire or other immediate danger. Schools then work with officers to sweep campuses before reopening. According to LAUSD guidance, the procedures are designed to limit movement, secure classrooms and keep families informed while an incident is underway.

No arrests were reported at Walter Reed, and officials said the case remains under investigation, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. The principal thanked parents and staff for their patience and cooperation in helping keep the campus safe.