An Atascadero elementary school was placed on lockdown shortly after the start of the school day on Monday.
According to the Atascadero Unified School District, the lockdown was issued at around 8:20 a.m. at Monterey Road Elementary on the 3300 block of Monterey Rd.
Police say they responded to the school after a student reported seeing someone who looked like they had a gun.
“They saw them near the school property, which indicates probably closer to the tree line that is in the Graves Creek,” said Chief Dan Suttles, Atascadero Police Department.
Chief Suttles told KSBY News that school administrators initiated the lockdown. Police searched the area but did not find anyone, and the lockdown was lifted by 10 a.m.
“Once we were done with our search, we were able to give them that information and we were able to allow the school to come out of lockdown,” Suttles said.
Dozens of parents and guardians waited outside the campus to pick up their students following the lockdown.
According to the California Department of Education, nearly 400 kindergarten through fifth-grade students are enrolled at the school.
The Atascadero Unified School District shared the following statement after the lockdown was lifted: "We wish to thank the Monterey Road Elementary Community for their support, understanding, and patience as we worked closely with the Atascadero Police Department to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students and staff at MRE.
"We are incredibly grateful to the Atascadero Police Department for their prompt response, professionalism, and partnership. Their presence and careful attention allowed us to act with an abundance of caution and ensured that our campus remained safe and secure throughout the situation."
Chief Suttles says school lockdowns in the Atascadero area are not common, happening only about once a year.
Since nothing suspicious was found during the search, he said there will be no further investigation unless something new is brought to their attention.
"We’re always going to react on the side of caution, which means that we’re going to, in the eyes of some people, maybe overreact, but we’d rather overreact than underreact on something.”
If you have any further information about this incident, you can reach the Atascadero Police Department at (805) 461-5051 or call Crime Stoppers at (805) 549-STOP (7867) to remain anonymous.
