Doherty High School closed Thursday after teen boy found dead inside

Doherty High School in Colorado Springs closed Thursday after a teenage boy was found dead inside the school.

Principal Kevin Gardner later confirmed he was a student.

Police are investigating the case and have released few details, but say they don’t suspect foul play. His name is being withheld pending notification of his relatives.

Police were called to the school at 7:32 a.m. after the body was found just minutes before the start of the school day.

The school initially sent notification messages to parents instructing them to pick up their kids at the school but providing no other information. Buses returned to the school, as well.

A short time later, the school described the situation as an “isolated medical emergency” and said it was cancelling classes for the day to allow police to fully investigate.

Amanda Williams and her student daughter, Kayla, were among many who were frantic for details about the situation.

“I was immediately terrified,” Amanda said. “There was no further information, so I called my daughter. It went to voice mail, but when she called back I realized she was OK and I calmed down a little bit.”

“I was nervous because it’s 9/11 (the anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attack in New York) and I was already freaking out,” Kayla said. “But yeah, it was a little frightening. I was scared. Once I found out, it was good — and bad — that I knew.”

District 11 Superintendent Nicholas Gledich defended the school’s handling of the situation.

“We practice our emergency plans,” he said. “In fact, we had a drill last week. Our first priority is to protect our students, then find out what’s going on and notify everyone. We have to deal in facts, not rumors.”

All activities were canceled at Doherty on Thursday. Principal Kevin Gardner said the school will resume a normal schedule on Friday, and that the district’s crisis team will be available through next week to counsel students and staff.

Meanwhile, a colorful “Doherty Strong” graphic was circulating on Facebook as a symbol of support for the school community.