Updated: Hoax Threat Puts Brentwood Elementary School on Lockdown

At 2:25 pm Monday, the Brentwood Police Department responded to Brentwood Elementary School after a threat was made at the school.

Brentwood Police stated it was evident early on that the call was a hoax after the call taker received a call with a digitized voice from a computer that said “gun” and at the school. Police responded by taking extra precaution for student safety and issued a controlled release of students during a lockdown.

According to Superintendent Dana Eaton, the school released students to their parents a few minutes after normal dismissal time saying police responded right away and searched the school while the students and staff were on lock down.

“We take any threat very seriously and locked the school down immediately,” said Eaton. “The Brentwood Police Department, Brentwood Elementary staff and students did a great job.”

Update: Press Release by Brentwood PD at 5:40 pm

On May 4, 2015 at approximately 2:25 p.m., a telephone call was received in the administration office of Brentwood Elementary School, located at 200 Griffith Lane. The caller used an unknown device to disguise his or her voice, and made various statements about having a gun at or near the school. The school was placed on lockdown while Police and School District personnel responded.

Although this call was suspected of being a hoax early on in the investigation, the students were nevertheless sheltered in place in their respective classrooms, while the exterior of the campus was locked and the school and surrounding areas were canvassed by Law Enforcement and School District authorities as a precautionary measure. All students were either safely released to their parents or transported home within approximately one hour.

False reporting, fabricated 9-1-1 calls, and/or intentionally generating an emergency services response to a fake critical incident, depending on the circumstances, is either a misdemeanor or felony offense. The Brentwood Police Department will not tolerate such acts, and will seek the most serious charges possible against those found responsible.

This case remains under investigation and anyone with information regarding this call or caller is encouraged to contact the Police Department at (925)634-6911.