[UPDATE 2 p.m.] Large, Quick Response to Report of Armed Subjects at McKinleyville High School

[All photos by Ryan Hutson]

Officers arrived on scene, clearing and securing the school buildings and campus. During their search of the campus, dispatch personnel contacted the school. Subsequent investigation, scanner traffic indicated a person with a firearm holstered to his side was witnessed walking past the school on Murray Road.

Parents were notified of the issue stating that the school was on lockdown due to a suspicious person off-campus.

Redheaded Blackbelt reporter Ryan Hutson was on scene of the incident where she spoke to the Northern Humboldt union High School District’s superintendent, Roger Macdonald, who said that the campus was cleared by law enforcement and stated there is no threat at the high school.

In addition to the lockdown at McKinleyville High School, Morris school was sheltering in place while the McKinleyville Middle School and Dow’s Prairie school were notified and prepared in case the threat was substantiated.

UPDATE 2 p.m.: New Press release from HCSO:

On 11/28/2023, at about 11:25 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the area of McKinleyville High School for the report of male subject, possibly armed with holstered handgun on his waist, entering the high school campus.

As HCSO deputies responded to the area, McKinleyville High School administration was contacted to be advised of the report. Both McKinleyville High School and neighboring Morris Elementary School campuses were placed on lockdown by school administrators as a precaution. Deputies, with assistance of officers from the California Highway Patrol, California State Parks, and Blue Lake Tribal Police began checking the area as contact was made with school officials.

As campuses were being cleared by law enforcement, additional information was received that indicated the possibly armed subject had been witnessed near the intersection of Hwy. 101 and Murray Road and had not been observed entering the high school campus as the initial report was believed to indicate.

After a thorough check of the area and campus, law enforcement was unable to locate the suspicious subject or identify any threat to the students, staff, or neighboring area.

The HCSO would like to thank the allied law enforcement agencies that responded to assist as well as the administration of both schools for their quick response in working to ensure the safety of their students and staff.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

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