HOUSTON – A junior high school was locked down for a short time on Friday because of rumor.
Pearland police said there were rumors that a student was planning to take a gun to Pearland Junior High East, 2315 Old Alvin Road.
Officers were sent to the school to investigate the rumor. No weapons were found on campus, police said.
"There's no indication that this was anything other than an idle comment from one student to another," Lt. Onesimo Lopez said. "We're confident at this time that this is nothing more than just a rumor."
Detectives said they were also concerned about possible violence because it is the anniversary of the Columbine school shooting and because it is 420 Day, which is associated with the use of marijuana.
Lopez said the lockdown was ordered out of an abundance of caution.
Pearland police said the lockdown was lifted shortly before 11 a.m. It lasted about 40 minutes.
Some parents went to the school and took them out of class.
"She doesn't need to be at school under stress," parent Gina Talbert said of her daughter.
"There were 14 police cars here," parent Sue Kinane said. "Of course you go into panic mode."
Additional officers were on the campus for the rest of the day, Lopez said.