A mistakenly activated active shooter alert prompted a lockdown and a large police response at a Southern Pines school Monday afternoon, but authorities confirmed there was never an actual threat.
Southern Pines police and firefighters responded to Moore Montessori School at 255 S. May St. around 12:28 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, after receiving reports of a possible active shooter on campus.
According to the Southern Pines Police Department, the situation began when a school staff member accidentally activated an active shooter alert through the school’s mobile application.
The notification was then received by other school employees, prompting multiple calls to police reporting a possible active shooter situation.
School staff immediately placed the campus on lockdown as a precaution while officers responded to investigate.
With the possibility of an active threat, Southern Pines police officers conducted a thorough search of the school to make sure students and staff were safe.
Authorities ultimately determined there was no active shooter or other threat on campus, and the incident was classified as a false alarm.
Following the response, officers met with the employee who accidentally triggered the notification, along with those who called police after receiving the alert. The discussions were intended to help investigators understand how the situation unfolded and review the actions taken by everyone involved.
The incident brought a significant law enforcement presence to the school, including numerous marked and unmarked police vehicles. Police said they wanted to address the situation publicly to provide accurate information and prevent rumors from spreading throughout the community.
Although the alert turned out to be a mistake, police say the incident will serve as an opportunity to review school safety procedures and the emergency response.
The Southern Pines Police Department and Moore Montessori School staff plan to conduct a joint review of the incident to evaluate how the situation was handled, identify any lessons learned and determine whether improvements to existing safety procedures are needed.
Police thanked school employees and the community for their cooperation during the response and reiterated their commitment to keeping Southern Pines schools safe.
No injuries were reported in the department’s statement, and police confirmed there was never an active threat to students or staff.
A Moore County native who has spent more than 20 years telling stories across North Carolina and beyond. He’s worked with CNN, WRAL, and CBS 17, and now serves as a Video Journalist for ABC11. Patrick has a passion for breaking news and has earned multiple awards for his coverage. He’s also a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter and was among the first news videographers in the state to become an FAA-certified drone pilot.
