Man with rifle sparks West Richland school lockdown

A report of a man carrying a rifle triggered a lockdown at a West Richland middle school on Tuesday.

A passerby reported seeing someone carrying a gun near a gas station along Paradise Way at 9:40 a.m.

A school resource officer immediately asked to have the doors shut at the school, said Sgt. Duane Olsen.

Officers searched the area but didn’t find anyone with a gun.

“We thought it was better safe than sorry,” he said. “It was only two blocks away from the school. There was only a large parking lot between the gas station and the school.”

The Richland School District shared information about the lockdown on its Facebook page, saying the doors reopened at 10 a.m.

An email to parents from Principal Jennifer Klauss said there was no threat directed at the school.

This story was originally published October 9, 2018 at 4:18 PM.