CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — CCISD Police Chief Kirby Warnke tells KRIS 6 News that a child has been arrested for calling in a false 911 call, setting off a chain of events that saw CCPD and CCISD police officers converge on the Driscoll Middle School campus shortly before noon.
Both law-enforcement entities responded to the school based on a report of an active shooter at the West Side school early Monday afternoon.
In a brief conversation shortly after noon, Warnke said the police presence may have been in response to an abuse of 911 call, or a possible prank call.
“Local law enforcement responded immediately the school went on lockdown," Warnke said. "We determined fairly quickly that it was a false alarm. We went to where the 911 call came in. One subject was arrested and will be transferred to juvenile justice center.”
Warnke said the call was traced to a child on the campus, and after further investigation determined no active shooter was on the campus.
Warnke said the heavy police presence was necessary, despite no threat being found.
“We would rather overreact than under-respond," he said. "These are our babies we’re talking about. So, we’ll come in force and then if we need to deescalate we’ll do so. It was a 911 call, so we’re coming.”
Although many parents said they didn't learn about the incident until later in the day, some were relieved by the police presence.
“Greatly appreciated, I'm sure, from all the parents that there was a quick response to the situation, even though it was a false alarm," Grace Sosa said, a parent to a student at Driscoll Middle School. "They made it here quickly to handle the situation.”
"I was glad that it was not an actual event," said Warnke. "That would be relief. But then I was very proud of the performance of our local first responders, and of the campus.”
Warnke added schools have to go through six emergency drills throughout the year: Lockdowns are one of the first to be done, he said.
