WEST VALLEY CITY, Utah — A school in West Valley City was put on lockdown and students were evacuated Thursday after a teacher reported seeing a man with a shotgun in the area.
Police at the scene say American Preparatory Academy, 1255 West Crystal Avenue, was placed on lockdown Thursday around 4 p.m. when a teacher saw a man outside carrying what she believed was a shotgun.
The teacher called police, and the school was secured. Students were evacuated to a location one block west of the school to allow officers to search the scene. Parents were able to pick their children up from that location.
Police were still sweeping the school as of about 5:30 p.m., but officers on scene said at this time they don’t believe there is a threat to the public.
According to the school’s website, the campus was formerly known as the School for New Americans, which opened in 2009 and primarily serves refugees and their families. The school has approximately 570 students grades K-9, according to the website.
