On Wednesday, January 29 an anonymous tip was made to Safe2Tell by a student at Lewis-Palmer High School that a student had a gun on the school grounds. It was confirmed that a hand gun was brought onto the school campus in a backpack by an unnamed student.
The school administration issued a “Shelter in Place” at around 9:45 in the morning. A “Shelter-in-Place” means students and teachers must lock the classroom doors but can continue teaching because administration deems there is no immediate danger to those in the school.
After initial investigation, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office believed the student had no intentions to harm any students or staff.
Around 12:08 in the afternoon, after spending 2 ½ hours confined in classrooms, students were released to a modified schedule the rest of the day.
Students returned to a normal schedule the following day. Counselors were on alert for any student or staff member needing emotional assistance.
“On Wednesday I felt confused and worried. I thought it was a drill until my dad texted me and told me it wasn’t. The next day when we came back to school, I felt like people were distraught and still a little scared,” sophomore Kristi Barker.
SAFE2TELL is a non-profit organization based on the Colorado Prevention Initiative for School Safety through the state attorney general’s office. Anyone submitting a concern to the agency via telephone or online is protected by anonymity by state law.