Harrison High School placed on lockout, magazine with ammunition found

Harrison High School was placed on lockout Wednesday morning after staff members found a magazine with live ammunition.

In a letter to parents, Harrison School District Two said as soon as the magazine was found they conducted an investigation. Students and staff were searched as well as a thorough search of the premises. The district reports that a weapon wasn’t found. They continued to say, at no time were students and staff in danger.

The director of security for the district and principal of Harrison High School spoke to KRDO shortly after school was let out. John Taylor the director of security says a teacher found the loaded magazine 15 minutes before classes started. He also said the magazine belonged to a handgun. “As you can imagine that made us a little worried and scared,” says Taylor. The school was then placed on lockout as police and staff searched everywhere for the gun the magazine belonged to. “You have to assume possibly it was slipped accidentally out of the weapon or was an extra magazine that someone was carrying also,” Taylor says.

The weapon was never found. Principal Peter Vargas says once police’s investigation is complete and the person who brought the magazine on campus, there will be big consequences. Vargas saying there will be added security on campus for the rest of the week and possibly metal detectors.

A source from the school told KRDO while the lockout was in place that it was precautionary and that students were going about their normal business.

The source also told KRDO that were rumors about a gun found on campus, and that the rumors were unsubstantiated. They continued to say that’s “not quite what caused the lockout.”

One parent told KRDO students were having their backpacks searched in class, but it wasn’t clear what they’re looking for.

Harrison High School students were released at 1 p.m. The school will be back to regular scheduling Thursday, with increased security for the remainder of the week.

KRDO will continue to update this developing story.