Law enforcement and other emergency personnel including firefighters arrived on location at the school on Friday morning about an hour-and-a-half before the school bell rang, local television reported.
Pender County Sheriff's Office Captain James Rowell initially told reporters that no injuries were been reported as of 7:04 am local time, and that the call about the possible active shooter in the school came in around 6:30 am. Shortly after 8 am, Rowell said that police were continuing sweeping through the building as a precaution, but that the incident appeared to be a false alarm.
Law enforcement in @PenderCounty_NC is responding to reports of an active shooter at Topsail High School this morning. According to Capt. James Rowell with the Pender County Sheriff’s Office, it is still an active scene. #ILM #Brunsco #Pender #CapeFear
— Joe Catenacci (@JoeCats19) 9 ноября 2018 г.
Officers surrounded the Topsail campus, which includes elementary and middle school buildings in addition to the high school.
According to local residents, all schools in the area were put on lockdown, with no one allowed in or out, and children which were being bussed in taken to a nearby grocery store parking lot.
County Commissioner George Brown was the first to report that a malfunctioning piece of equipment making sounds which sound like gunfire may have caused a false alarm. Captain Rowell later confirmed this version of events, but said that police would wrap up their sweep of the area as a precaution.
Update on #BREAKING Two Commissioners and EMS now saying a malfunctioning machine could've caused what sounds like gunfire at #topsail High.. Possibly the hot water heater. School there still all blocked off. No reports of injuries. I'll have another live report at 8:30am https://t.co/eD1I6WgZ83
— DawnDLOLopez (@DawnANjax) 9 ноября 2018 г.
The US has suffered over three hundred school shootings since January 1.
