Lafayette High School Shelter-in-Place Lifted; Officials Say Hoax Shut 2 Schools Down

UPDATE (10:15 a.m.) — The Lafayette Parish School System has confirmed that a call to Lafayette High and another campus led to the shelter-in-place order. LPSS has ruled the incident a "swatting."

Just before 7:45 a.m., a caller claiming to be a student reported being on the Lafayette High campus with a firearm," Tracy Wirtz, Communications Director with LPSS said in a statement. "Out of an abundance of caution, deputies responded immediately to Lafayette High School and the campus was placed under shelter in place status. The Career Center also initiated a 'hold' while officials determined whether the suspected student had classes at that location."

LPSS also confirmed that the shelter-in-place orders were lifted and all students and staff were safe and accounted for.

You can see our original reporting below.

ORIGINAL STORY

A large law enforcement presence at Lafayette High School on Thursday prompted concern among parents and residents as officials confirmed the campus was placed under a precautionary shelter-in-place.

Multiple listeners contacted our newsroom reporting what they described as "dozens" of police units and fire trucks responding to the school.

The Lafayette Parish School System has since confirmed the precautionary measure, reassuring families that all students and staff are safe.

LPSS Confirms Precautionary Shelter-in-Place at Lafayette High

According to LPSS Communications Director Tracy Wirtz, the response followed a 911 call received by the school.

Wirtz provided the following statement:

Lafayette High School is currently under a precautionary shelter-in-place following a 911 call received by the school. Officials responded out of an abundance of caution.

All students and staff are safe. As a precaution, no one may enter or leave campus at this time.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we prioritize the safety of our students and staff. We will share an update as soon as additional information is available.

The district has not provided additional details about the nature of the 911 call or what prompted the emergency response.

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Heavy Police Presence Raises Questions Among Parents

Reports of numerous law enforcement vehicles and emergency personnel quickly began circulating Thursday, with several eyewitnesses sharing their observations on social media.

Some accounts described a significant police presence around the campus, including multiple emergency vehicles.

However, officials have not confirmed the circumstances surrounding the response, and information circulating on social media remains unverified.

While the visible response has understandably raised concerns, LPSS has emphasized that the shelter-in-place is precautionary and that everyone on campus is safe.

What We Know About the Lafayette High School Situation

At this time, LPSS has confirmed that a 911 call prompted an emergency response and that the school was placed under a precautionary shelter-in-place.

During the precautionary measure, no one is permitted to enter or leave the campus.

Our newsroom is awaiting additional information from the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office regarding the nature of the call and the law enforcement response.

It is important to note that a shelter-in-place does not necessarily indicate an active threat. Such measures may be implemented while authorities investigate a situation or work to ensure the safety of everyone on campus.

This is a developing story. We will update this report as additional information is confirmed by school officials or law enforcement.