Multiple Schools Briefly Locked Down After Weapons Reports

Multiple U.S. schools were briefly placed on lockdown this week after reports of weapons or gunfire, including Stonington High in Connecticut, John A. Shaw Middle School in Spokane, and Petersburg High and Vernon Johns Middle School in Petersburg, Va. In Stonington, police took a student into custody after a student was found with two facsimile/pellet weapons; the district conducted a security sweep, lifted the lockdown, limited that night’s football game to players and parents, and offered mental-health support. In Spokane, staff quickly alerted police when a student was found with a BB gun at John A. Shaw Middle; the student was escorted to the office, the weapon was confirmed as a BB gun, and normal operations resumed in about 20 minutes with officials reminding families that replicas and toys are prohibited. In Petersburg, shots were reported near the high school as students boarded buses, prompting lockdowns at Petersburg High and Vernon Johns Middle; officers searched the area, observed shell casings and a heavy police presence, and reported no injuries as investigations continue. Authorities emphasized swift law-enforcement responses, urged the public to follow official updates, and highlighted available supports for students and families.