Maize South goes under lockdown due to false shooter report

Ryann Redinger and Olivia Elmore

Maize South went into a modified school lockdown when a false shooter report was called into dispatch. Courtesy photo from KSN-TV.

A modified school lockdown took place at Maize South during their Mav Time due to a false active shooter report. According to Officer Jamey Dover, the Maize High resource officer, over 60 police arrived on the scene to prevent an intruder from entering the school. All students were escorted to the auditorium while the police searched the building. Maize South junior Hailey Beckmann said she was at school when the assembly was called.

“We didn’t really know what was happening,” Beckmann said. “The principal just called an emergency assembly to tell us what was going on.”

Dover said that there was tip called into dispatch reporting a shooter at the school. He said units were sent to Maize High in case the call was a diversion, but Maize High did not go under a lockdown. Both schools were cleared shortly after the police arrived and classes continued as usual.  

Beckmann said the call was made after a text threat was sent saying there was an active shooter in the school. She said there was a verbal threat made on Wednesday.

The suspect has not been confirmed, but the case is currently being processed at the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.