Topsail High School: Armed storm North Carolina school after 'malfunctioning heater' sparks fears of active shooter
Armed officers pictured on roof after police surround school
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Armed police stormed a high school in North Carolina after noises made by a malfunctioning heater were mistaken for an active shooter..
Pender County Sheriff’s Office told The Independent they had sent officers to investigate “reports of an active shooter” at Topsail High School in the town of Hampstead early on Friday morning.
A SWAT team searched the building and every school in the east of the county was placed on lockdown, but no gunman was found and no injuries were reported.
Authorities later confirmed the report was a false alarm.
“There’s no active shooter,” Tom Collins, the Pender County emergency management director, told local newspaper Star-News. “It’s a malfunctioning water heater.”
In a statement to news channel WECT, George Brown, chair of Pender County board of commissioners, said: “There is a piece of equipment at the school that has been malfunctioning in recent days that makes noise. It does sound like gunfire. This has been going on for several days."
He said police had been "taking this seriously and making sure".
The active shooter report came two days after 12 people were shot dead at a bar in California and nine months after 17 people were killed in Florida in one of the worst school massacres in US history.
Police were called to Topsail High School at 6.30am local time (11.30am GMT.)
Classes had not yet started but there are thought to have been some pupils in the school at the time.
Local TV coverage showed police vehicles blocking the road leading to Topsail High School and a helicopter circling overhead. At least nine officers were also pictured on the school’s roof.
Buses carrying pupils to classes have been diverted to a safe area.
Hampstead is about 20 miles north of the city of Wilmington.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments