EUREKA, Mo. — An intruder alarm at Eureka High School turned out to be a false alarm Wednesday morning.
According to school officials, the unintentional intruder alarm caused staff and students to either shelter in place or temporarily evacuate.
A spokesperson for the Rockwood School District released the following statement,
‘We had an UNINTENTIONAL intruder alarm at Eureka High today. As a result, staff and students either sheltered in place or evacuated, temporarily. Police responded and are on location at the school. Again, we have since determined it was an UNINTENTIONAL intruder alarm, and students are returning to classes.’
The Eureka Police Department released the following statement,
‘Officers responded to an automated intruder alarm at Eureka High School today at 11:48 a.m. The building was placed in lock down and some students were evacuated. Officers checked and cleared the building. All students who were evacuated have returned to the building, lock down has been lifted and normal activities have resumed. It has been determined that this was a false alarm.’
On Wednesday evening, Eureka High School principal Charles Crouther released the following statement:
"Late this morning at Eureka High School we experienced a false intruder alert.
After a pre-recorded announcement went out over the intercom, students and staff responded appropriately, according to their training and protocol. People in classrooms sheltered in place and those in common areas evacuated the building.
School resource officers in the building responded along with law enforcement officers from Eureka Police and other jurisdictions. After a thorough investigation by law enforcement officers, it was determined that there was no intruder; it was a false alarm caused by a technological malfunction. Rockwood administrators are working with district technology and facilities personnel to determine what happened and how to prevent it from happening again.
Please know that Eureka High students and staff responded appropriately under the circumstances and we are proud of how students and staff conducted themselves during this uncertain time.
Teachers, extra counselors and adults will be at school Thursday to come to the aid of students who are in need of support. The district’s employee assistance program has been activated for staff members.
We are sorry and saddened your children had to experience this. We know it was frightening for our students and staff. Eureka High and Rockwood administrators are working to determine what happened and make sure that it doesn’t happen again in the future.
Thank you."