A quick note
"All information is preliminary, this remains an active investigation. Facts are subject to change as we continue our investigation," San Marcos Police Chief Stan Standridge said.
What happened
SMHS, located at 2601 Rattler Road in San Marcos, was placed under lockdown at 3:58 p.m. to investigate a threat made by an anonymous caller.
All students and staff were accounted for and no injuries were reported on campus, according to a statement from the San Marcos Police Department. Standridge said there was no evidence found of a shooting or armed individual on the campus, but the investigation is ongoing.
Standridge said the call came from a known number, and the male caller said he saw someone in the hallway of SMHS with a gun before retreating to the bathroom and calling 911. The dispatcher heard two gunshots while on the line.
Standridge said the call triggered a large police, fire and emergency services response to the campus.
“We had [an] early estimate in excess of 80 police officers from San Marcos and elsewhere, assisting,” Standridge said. “So we had dozens, if not more, inside the school, actively searching the entire time I and my command staff were out here with the San Marcos Fire Department.”
Several students who texted about an alleged school shooter were interviewed but released after questioning, according to Standridge.
“Police subsequently learned that the phone number that called our dispatch center had also reported similar threats to other jurisdictions,” Standridge said.
Students began to be released to families at a reunification location and delayed bus routes resumed around 5:30 p.m. At 5:35 p.m. a final update was given by the city of San Marcos, stating that SMPD determined the situation is all clear and there is no credible threat based on known facts.
“No one is in custody, yet. I want to repeat that no evidence of any gunman victims or anything similar was found,” Standridge said.
Going forward
SMCISD Superintendent Michael Cardona said students will be on a regular bell schedule and will have access to counselors on campus.
“Our staff was kept safe and informed, our director of safety, our chief of operations and several other staff were coordinating with our police department,” Cardona said. “I do want to thank our first responders for their quick action. If anything, this incident shows that our protocols work.”
Standridge said there will be a larger police force on campus and the investigation remains active.
“We ultimately want to determine who made this call and for what reasons, etc., so that we can anticipate an arrest, but nobody is currently in custody,” Standridge said.
In an update from the district, Cardona and SMHS Principal Twila M. Guajardo said SMCISD is working alongside law enforcement to identify an individuals involved.
"Once the individual is identified, and if they are an SMCISD student, they will face consequences both at the district and criminal level," the update states.
