Unconfirmed reports of a shooting prompted a lockdown at the Summit Prep Charter High School in Redwood City on February 23. Redwood City is located 25 miles south of San Francisco.
Here’s what You Need to Know:
1. A Witness Called the Evacuation ‘Scary’
(Screengrab via ABC San Francisco)
The school has been evacuated by authorities. In a press release, the Redwood City Police Department referred to their operation as a “safety incident.” The school is located at 890 Broadway in Redwood City. The evacuation was ordered as a result of a 911 call. That call indicated that there was a gun at the school. Joe Witherspoon, who works at a nearby bicycle store, told local newspaper The San Mateo Daily Journal, “They’re evacuating students with their hands in the air. It’s kind of scary.”
2. There Were No Injuries
(Screengrab via CBS San Francisco)
There were no shots fired, a gunman or any injuries. Although a CBS San Francisco live feed from the scene showed a person in a stretcher by an ambulance. The station also reported that a student contacted a teacher who called 911 after the student heard popping sounds. KTVU reports that those sounds came from a nearby construction site.
3. A Massive Police Response Was at the School
Police on scene at the school. (Screengrab via CBS San Francisco)
SWAT Teams were on scene at the school. In a statment on the school’s Facebook page, it reads:
Summit Prep, is currently on lockdown due to police activity outside of the school this morning. Summit Prep immediately followed all emergency procedures and is taking all precautions to ensure the safety of our students. All students and faculty have been successfully evacuated, and are with their mentor groups outside of Summit Prep. Teachers have taken attendance and every student is accounted for. Currently, students are waiting to re-enter the building. The police have been abundantly cautious in ensuring that the building and students are safe. At this point, we can say that no one was ever in danger and everything is fine at Summit Prep. We encourage you to share this message with friends, family, alumni and community members who may have questions regarding this event. Summit Prep’s Directors and Summit Public Schools’ leadership team are on the ground working closely with police. We will continue sharing updates throughout the day.
4. Around 400 Students Are Enrolled at the School
Students waiting in groups after the evacuation. (Screengrab via CBS San Francisco)
There are just over 400 students enrolled at the school. On the school’s Facebook page it says that Summit was opened in 2003 and “quickly became one of the best public high schools in the nation.” The school’s director is Brian Johnson. Summit’s mission statement is made clear on the school’s website where it reads:
We believe that every student is capable of college and career readiness. While some students will select career paths or community colleges, the process of preparing to attend a four-year college helps young people avoid the academic and skill deficit that results from placement in a non-college prep, high school diploma program.
5. In 2011, Newsweek Called the School a ‘Miracle High School’
Newsweek named the school as one of the top three in Northern California in 2011. In writing about the school, the magazine referred to it as a “miracle high school” because of the institution’s policy of “taking students at all skill levels, from all strata, and turning out qualified graduates.”
