UPDATE 4/24 – Moorhead Police Chief Chris Helmick has shared the student the department said held a phone mimicking a gun to scare his friends prompting a lockdown was told previously by staff to not simulate weapons in school.
In an email to media outlets, Helmick added the boy wasn’t initially cooperative with police, but admitted to holding a phone this way.
“We understand people are asking how a phone could be mistaken for a gun. In a confined space like a restroom, quick movements and limited visibility can make even a brief gesture appear threatening. The student reacted to what they genuinely believed they saw, so staff and officers responded accordingly to ensure everyone’s safety,” Helmick wrote.
Helmick said police’s response demonstrates established safety systems are working.
MOORHEAD, MINN – A lockdown has been lifted at the Moorhead High Career Academy.
School spokeswoman Brenda Richman says the lockdown lasted approximately 40 minutes as authorities worked to determine the validity of a report of a possible weapon on the campus.
Police determined that there was no weapon on campus and no threat to student safety.
Richman says the report originated from a misunderstanding involving a student using a mobile phone in a manner that was mistaken for a firearm.
One juvenile has been arrested and taken into custody for Criminal Misconduct and additional charges are pending.
