Parker – Reports of a loud noise and the discovery of a Ponderosa High School student carrying chemicals led to the school’s evacuation Friday.
It was one of several incidents reported at Colorado schools on the eighth anniversary of the attack at Columbine High School, an annual milestone on which school authorities have come to expect various threats.
After reports of noise near Ponderosa High early Friday that neighbors said sounded like firecrackers, a 17-year-old Ponderosa junior was found to be carrying chemicals in his backpack that could be used to make a “small soundmaking device,” said Deputy Cocha Heyden of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Discovery of the chemicals led to the evacuation of the high school, at 7007 E. Bayou Gulch Road, about 9 a.m. Authorities declined to describe the chemicals involved.
The student was taken into custody for questioning, Heyden said. And while no one was hurt and authorities believe the student’s intent was merely to scare classmates, the incident is being taken seriously. A prosecutor and school officials said the student could face suspension and criminal prosecution.
The incident began when neighbors reported hearing the loud bangs, Heyden said. Authorities said the noise was caused by an unspecified device placed about 100 yards behind the school.
Acting on information from other students, authorities contacted the junior they believe was responsible for the noise. When he was searched, the chemicals were found and the school was evacuated immediately, Heyden said.
Many parents picked up their children from a church parking lot across the street from the school. Other students were bused home.
In Denver, Morey Middle School was locked down Friday morning after a student reported seeing someone near the school with a gun.
No gun was seen at the school, but police later arrested a youth at Civic Center, several blocks away, police spokeswoman Virginia Quiñones said. It was not immediately clear if a gun was recovered. The youth was not believed to be a Morey student.
Denver’s East High School closed its campus Friday and went on what was described as a “modified lockdown” because of earlier, unspecified threats.
“This is a case of a student finishing some threats that were made on Thursday,” said assistant principal Bill Ewing, adding that authorities were in contact with the students involved.
In Lamar, a staff member at Lamar Middle School found a note that said the school would be blown up Friday, Lamar School District Superintendent Wayne Graybeal said.
Classes were canceled and parents were notified to pick up their children.
Denver Post staff writer Electa Draper and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
