A lockdown was lifted Thursday at Palm Springs High School after staff received an anonymous phone threat involving a firearm and an explosive device.
The school was alerted of the call shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday and promptly called parents about the immediate lockdown as part of the school’s protocol, according to the Palm Springs Unified School District.
An unspecified number of parents attempted to enter the campus but were not permitted inside.
The suspect, identified only as male, made a threat to harm the school with “a firearm and an explosive device,” according to the Palm Springs Police Department.
Officers and explosive-detection canines conducted a search throughout the facility but did not find any weapons.
Police later assessed that there was no active threat and all students and staff were deemed safe.
Around 1:45 p.m., the lockdown was lifted and parents could pick up their children if they wanted, district officials said.
The incident was under investigation, and police noted that “There has been a trend of similar false reports of attacks or violence at schools.”
“We are extremely grateful to our Palm Springs police officers and district security team for their prompt response to this call,” Superintendent of School Marcus Funchess said in a statement. “We are relieved that this threat was not credible, and we thank out Palm Springs High students, staff and families for their understanding and patience during the lockdown. The safety of out students are our number-one priority, and every threat is taken seriously.”