Students released from Elk Grove middle school after alleged bomb threat forces lockdown
ELK GROVE – A middle school in Elk Grove was on a precautionary lockdown Wednesday afternoon after deputies said a student received an anonymous text message about a bomb threat.
The school was Joseph Kerr Middle School. The Elk Grove Police Department posted to social media just before 5 p.m., saying the lockdown was lifted.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said students were released under a controlled release. Parents were notified of pickup procedures and all students have been released.
The sheriff's office said at about 5:15 p.m. that the campus was clear of all students and it was still on lockdown as bomb dogs continued searching the campus.
No suspicious items were located during the search.
Both Elk Grove police and the sheriff's office posted shortly before 3 p.m. saying the lockdown had been put in place.
Elk Grove police shared a message from Elk Grove Unified following the announcement of the lockdown, which stated students were safely in their rooms.
Joseph Kerr Middle School Principal Aaron Munoz also sent a letter to families notifying them of the lockdown, which extended past the school's dismissal time.
"The District's Safety and Security department will work in partnership with local law enforcement to monitor the campus and ensure that all safety precautions are being met to maintain student and staff safety. Because these actions are highly disruptive to our school and community, parents are asked to remind your student that this type of threat can result in criminal charges," part of the letter said.
The school district added that all students and staff were safe. People were asked to avoid the area until the scene was cleared of law enforcement.
Deputies said they will conduct a follow-up investigation.