NEWS

UPDATED: No gun or weapons found following report of armed person at McKay High School

This story was updated at 2 p.m. with additional information from Salem police.

Salem police responded to McKay High School after a report of a student with a gun on campus led the school to lockdown late Wednesday morning, but found no weapon and made no arrests.

The lockdown was lifted around 2 p.m.

Police were called to McKay around 11:30 a.m. according to a police department news release. The Salem-Keizer School District tweeted that the school was in a lockdown and all students and staff were safe at 12:22 p.m.

“This morning, some of our students reported seeing a student on campus with a firearm. Around 11:25 a.m., our school went into a lockdown out of an abundance of caution. We immediately engaged our district’s safety and security team and law enforcement, and they worked together to fully investigate this incident. Law enforcement identified and detained all individuals believed to be connected to this incident,” McKay Principal Ranae Quiring said in an email to school families sent Wednesday afternoon.

“Officers determined no weapon was ever seen. They were, however, able to identify several students involved and interviewed them regarding the incident. No weapons were found. No arrests were made. The students were released to school administrators,” the police department release said. “Contrary to postings on social media, no shots were fired on or near the campus.”

Salem police spokesperson Lt. Treven Upkes said police interviewed students trying to learn why a weapon was reported. He said he did not have more information about the students interviewed and declined to provide further details.

“No gun was ever seen or found,” he said. “It’s over and done with.”

The incident comes two days after a 13-year-old Stephens Middle School student was arrested after bringing a gun to school in his backpack.