VALENCIA (CNS/KNX 1070) - A report of a woman with a rifle on the College of the Canyons' Valencia campus proved to be a false alarm.
Students and staff were forced to shelter in place Wednesday for more than an hour, as the campus was searched. It turns out the woman was actually just carrying a tree branch, and not a gun.
The lockdown was ordered after someone reported seeing a woman with a rifle entering the campus, authorities said on Wednesday.
TRAFFIC ADVISORY: Rockwell Canyon Road, Valencia is temporarily closed. Please use alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/Fnl8w0GJC9
— SCV Sheriff (@SCVSHERIFF)
January 17, 2019 Deputies were sent about 4:40 p.m. to the campus in the 26400 block of Rockwell Canyon Road to investigate, according to the Sheriff's Information Bureau.
The college tweeted about 5:15 p.m. that the campus had been locked down and advised people to shelter in place.
5:37 Please continue to shelter in place. Stay away from the area and off campus if you are not already here. Officers are currently on campus. We will update you as we know more.
— CollegeoftheCanyons (@canyons)
January 17, 2019 Another tweet 10 minutes later added: "Stay off campus if you are not already here."
Only one report of a possible woman with a rifle was received, according to the sheriff's department, which reported that deputies were conducting safety checks of campus buildings.
ADVISORY: College of the Canyons, Valencia campus is currently on lockdown. Deputies are conducting safety checks of buildings. pic.twitter.com/aq6NlHJ1HW
— SCV Sheriff (@SCVSHERIFF)
January 17, 2019 Rockwell Canyon Road was closed near the campus due to the investigation, the sheriff's department reported.
