An all clear has been issued for Lone Star College-Kingwood after the campus was placed on lockdown following a student reportedly hearing gunshots north of the campus, according to LSC officials.
Kyle Scott, vice chancellor of strategic priorities at LSC, said in a press conference on campus that a student called police after reportedly nearing multiple gunshots north of the Kingwood campus at 1:31 p.m. Law enforcement agencies arrived on campus shortly after, and students and staff were ordered to lock themselves in their classrooms while officers swept the school.
Paul Willingham, chief of police for Lone Star College, said law enforcement also received several other calls about hearing the gunshots.
"We found out that there was 20 sounds like that, and we assume that somebody had fired some type of weapon," Willingham said. "It very well could be off-campus, though, with the woods around us. We also have issues with poachers and things like that in these woods, and the echo can confuse people."
Willingham said law enforcement does not have plans to search the surrounding woods and area at this time. Officers went room to room, confirming that the campus was clear.
LoneStarCollegeAlert: The ALL CLEAR has been issued for LSC - KINGWOOD.
— Lone Star College (@lonestarcollege) January 30, 2020
Updated 3:40 p.m.
All rooms of the Lone Star College-Kingwood campus have been searched by law enforcement, and students and staff are being escorted off campus, according to a tweet from the Lone Star College System Twitter account. The campus is closed for the remainder of the day Thursday, Jan. 30.
LSC police have confirmed that all rooms at @LSC_Kingwood have been cleared and students and staff are being escorted off campus. LSC-Kingwood is closed for the remainder of today. We will provide additional updates as they become available. pic.twitter.com/4LKPAh9GiN
— Lone Star College (@lonestarcollege) January 30, 2020
Posted 2:28 p.m.
Lone Star College-Kingwood is currently on lockdown as police investigate a reported incident, according to Twitter and Facebook posts from the college system. The college system sent out an alert via Twitter at 1:38 p.m. on Jan. 30 stating that the campus was on lockdown. "THIS IS NOT A DRILL. LOCKDOWN NOW. Go to nearest room and lock the door. Check email for further instructions," the Twitter post read.
LSC Alert: Emergency on LSC - KINGWOOD CAMPUS.THIS IS NOT A DRILL. LOCKDOWN NOW. Go to nearest room and lock the door. Check email for further instructions.
— Lone Star College (@lonestarcollege) January 30, 2020
Shortly after at 1:57 p.m., the college posted on Twitter that the campus is on lockdown while police investigate an incident that has been reported.
@LSC_Kingwood is currently under a Lockdown as a precaution while LSC Police investigate an incident that has been reported. There are no further details at this time. We will provide updates as they become available. pic.twitter.com/U3XBEq2lyR
— Lone Star College (@lonestarcollege) January 30, 2020
This is a developing story. This post will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
