All Richland 2 schools on lockout as deputies search for two people, officials say
As the Richland County Sheriff’s Department searched for two people, all Richland 2 schools were placed on lockout as a precaution, district officials said Monday.
Deputies were searching for people involved in a vehicle pursuit from earlier in the day, a sheriff’s department spokesperson told The State.
“As a precaution and until we receive a confirmation on the areas being searched, all district schools have implemented the secure safety response,” spokesperson Ishmael Tate said in a news release. “There is no immediate danger or threat to our schools.”
All students were brought inside the schools and no one was allowed to enter the buildings, according to the release.
Despite the safety precaution, Tate said school is continuing normally inside the schools.
The “secure” response is part of the “standard response protocol” used by school districts nationwide, according to the release. In 2021, the foundation that developed this protocol changed some of the terminology used, and what is now referred to as secure is what was previously called a lockout.
Information about why the pursuit began, and where it happened, was not available. There was no word if the people deputies were searching for were considered a threat to the community.
Richland 2 schools include Blythewood High, Richland Northeast High, Ridge View High, Spring Valley High, and Westwood High, as well as Blythewood Middle, Dent Middle, E.L. Wright Middle, Kelly Mill Middle, Longleaf Middle, Mueller Road Middle, and Summit Parkway Middle, in addition to 20 elementary schools.
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This story was originally published September 19, 2022 at 12:48 PM.
