Both campuses of ALA Ironwood in Queen Creek went into lockdown on Tuesday as police investigated an incident at the charter school, closing the sites as a precaution while officers worked the scene.
According to 12News, Queen Creek police said they were investigating an incident at ALA Ironwood charter school and reported that both campuses were closed as a precaution. ALA officials said the school administration had been notified by the Queen Creek Police Department of a potential, unverified security threat involving ALA Ironwood High School, per the ALA statement cited by the station.
Standard Protocols Activated as Officers Respond
ALA officials said they initiated standard safety protocols in coordination with officers on the scene, the outlet's report noted. Per the same account, the Queen Creek Police Department was described as managing the situation and investigation, and ALA officials directed further inquiries and requests for updates to the department's public information office.
Queen Creek police urged parents not to go to the school and not to call 911 for investigation updates, the report said. Police indicated they would provide updates as they come in, and 12News said it was reporting from the scene at the school as the situation developed.
School Officials Stress Safety as Top Priority
ALA officials said student and staff safety and well-being remained their highest priority, according to the statement relayed in the station's report.
Tuesday's lockdown is not the first time a Queen Creek school has been locked down this year. In April, police cleared Queen Creek High School after a parent called shortly before 7 a.m. to report hearing gunshots on campus, according to azfamily.com. Officers searched the campus, found no evidence that shots were fired or that there was any threat, and lifted the lockdown after rerouting school buses as a precaution.
In a separate episode, Queen Creek Junior High was placed on lockdown after a student reported that someone had threatened him with a gun near the school, yourvalley.net reported. Police lifted that lockdown by 11:53 a.m. after saying they were unable to find any evidence that a crime occurred or that a credible threat existed.
