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Law enforcement and other emergency responders swarmed Hillcrest High School at lunchtime Thursday after an anonymous report of shots fired, but a Springfield police spokeswoman said there was ‘no indication that a shot had been fired’ at the school.
Reports of a shooting at the school circulated shortly before noon, but district officials immediately issued a statement saying “everyone is safe.”
“(The students) are safe and (police) are literally going into the classroom to assess the situation,” said Stephen Hall, a spokesman for the district.
Hall said, “We have no indication at this time that the anonymous call to 911 has any credibility, but we do have everyone and the building is safe enough that they can assess the situation.”
Messages were sent to parents with the following statement from Principal Rob Kroll:
Dear Hillcrest Families:
We want to let you know that there is currently a police presence in Hillcrest, but everyone is safe. Springfield police and school police respond to a 911 call of shots fired on campus. However, there is no sign of that happening now. Again, everyone at Hillcrest is now safe. The building is currently on lockdown as law enforcement inspects the building’s classrooms and conducts classroom operations. We encourage students and families to remain calm while investigating this report. We will update you soon when we have more facts to share. In the meantime, we ask that you do not come to school. Thank you for your understanding while we respond.
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Along with emergency vehicles and first responders, parents could be seen blocking roads around the high school and running to the school along Grant Avenue north of Norton Road.
Hall, a district spokesperson, said shortly after 1 p.m., “We have not yet been given any direction on reunification and next steps. We are waiting for it on the instructions of law enforcement.
Just before 2 p.m., police released a statement instructing parents to pick up students at Gate 10 at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds. Buses were scheduled to depart at regular times, after which the student drivers would be released.
Parent Natalie Blanton told reporters she received a text from her daughter, a senior at Hillcrest, saying the school was on lockdown at lunchtime. Blanton said her daughter said police officers came into her classroom and made everyone show their hands as the officers swept the building.
As rumors circulated on social media, Blanton was upset that the school district did not notify parents that he had been out of school for 25 minutes before receiving a message from school officials.
Parent Angela Bushe said her daughter called her from inside Hillcrest to tell her about the lockdown.
“I was scared, so I called my mom … she was on the phone with my daughter.”
Hearing that there was an active shooter, Bushe ran to Hillcrest to find his daughter. She was stuck in a backlog of cars on Grant Avenue. “I didn’t hear anything.”
Bushe said her daughter was fine but was scared. “I’m a little scared. I didn’t expect Springfield to do this. Some say it’s not happening. Some say.”
Bushe said he doesn’t intend to leave “until I get my daughter.”
Confusion and worry as news of lockdown spreads
Kayla Woodruff was on her way to Hillcrest to pick up her nephew when she saw emergency vehicles on Grant Avenue.
“On the way I heard some sirens. So I was here at the Eagle stop (on Norton Road) and 11 officers passed me,” she said. “I have come to pick up my son-in-law. My boyfriend is at work. He cannot go to his nephew. His mother is at work. “
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Seventeen-year-old Zoe Davis, a student at the Study Alternative Center, was with a friend when she received word that the police were on their way to Hillcrest. Davis had friends and family attending and she wanted to make sure they were safe.
Eventually she contacted some people she knew and told her they were safe.
Jeff Tindle was there to pick up his brother. He attended Hillcrest and said, “I know a lot of kids here.”
Tyndall heard reports of a shooter on the police scanner and his response was, “Get over here.” He said he never worried about shootings when he was in school.
News-Leader reporters were working Thursday afternoon to get more information at the school. For the latest information on the incident and investigation, visit News-Leader.com.
News-Leader journalists Sarah Carnes, Nathan Papes, Susan Zuch and Harrison Keegan contributed to this story.
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