Houston Heights Active Shooter Report Was False: Police

Active shooter reports at Houston Heights High School caused a scare today, but police say reports of a shooting were false. Officials said in statements they cleared the building and that there were no injuries.

Parents of children in the school were permitted to pick up the students through an early dismissal, police said.

Police said in a press conference that there was no active shooter, but that there was a fight. Officials also said in the press conference that false reports will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Preliminary information indicates that the report of the shooting came from outside the school.

Here’s what you need to know:

‘This Is Houston. One Family,’ Police Chief Troy Finner Said

“This is Houston. One family,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said at the beginning of his press conference outside Heights High School in Houston.

“We have no injuries here. Thank God for that,” he said.

A chorus of people echoed “Thank God.”

Finner said they received a call of “shots fired, shooting in progress” shortly after 1 p.m. They received a call saying 10 people were shot in Room 213, on the opposite side of the building. When officers arrived minutes later, the door to the room was locked, Finner said.

“Considering what happened recently in an active shooting, we breached the door. We went in and we immediately started searching, because we want to make sure our kids are safe and OK,” he said.

He gave parents directions on how to pick up their children.

“I am extremely proud of our first responder’s response here today,” he said.

The high school is located about 300 miles from Uvalde.

Officials Remained on the Scene After Receiving Reports of an Active Shooter Until the Report Could Be Disproven

Officials remained on the scene until they could be sure no shooting occurred, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said during a press conference. Once the scene was secured, parents were permitted to pick up their children.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said in a statement at Commissioner’s Court that two students got into a fight, and that there was not a shooting or the threat of a shooting, according to ABC 13.

Constable Alan Rosen of Harris County Precinct 1 wrote updates on his Twitter account beginning at about 1:30 p.m. today, Tuesday, September 13, 2022. He wrote:

Please avoid the area. Deputies and multiple agencies on scene still clearing the building. Parent Staging location has been set at the corner of E. 12th St and Columbia St.

No reported injuries at this time.

Deputies responding to a reported Active Shooter Call at 1:00 p.m., at 413 E. 13th St. Heights High School. Deputies currently clearing the building.

The Houston Police Department was also among the law enforcement agencies who responded to the scene. They wrote on Twitter:

HPD is responding to unconfirmed reports of a shooting at a high school at 413 E 13th Street. HPD is on scene. We will provide more updates as information becomes available.

UPDATE: At this time there are no confirmed injuries.
Parent staging is at 306 E 15th Street. Please avoid the area if your presence is not needed.

Media staging will be at the corner of Cortlandt & 14th Street.

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