HUMBOLDT COUNTY – On November 28, 2023, at about 11:25 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to the area of McKinleyville High School for a report of male subject, possibly armed with a 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 seen near the intersection of Hwy. 101 and Murray Road and had not been observed entering the high school campus as the initial report indicated.

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

The HCSO expressed appreciated to 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.

“As parents, it is comforting to know that when there is a possible threat to the safety of students, law enforcement officers from numerous agencies will respond, and respond quickly.  We appreciate the effort of all the officers, deputies and State Parks rangers who bravely went to the scene of this potential threat in order to apprehend the subject and protect students, teachers and administrators from harm,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona.