Precautions taken after possible gunshot heard on STHS campus

Students were kept in their classrooms while law-enforcement officers investigated a report of a possible gunshot at 7:50 a.m. Monday on the South Tahoe High School campus.

The gunshot wasn’t confirmed, but after the possible shot was heard, a vehicle was seen leaving campus, said South Lake Tahoe police Lt. Marty Hale.

Police located the vehicle and contacted its occupants about the incident, and several individuals in the investigation have been known to be affiliated with gang members, Hale said.

For safety, Lake Tahoe Unified School District spokeswoman Angie Keil said the high school was in “shelter-in-place” status, meaning students had to remain in the classrooms while police conducted their investigation. All students, staff and visitors then were accounted for.

Because the vehicle had left the campus, officials did not institute a lockdown, during which no one would have been able to enter or leave the campus.

Students were cleared to resume to their normal class schedules at 9:30 a.m.

The gate at 13th Street remained locked for the rest of the day, and traffic was directed to the front of the school so security officers could monitor everyone entering and leaving the campus.

Tracy Silveira, who has a daughter at the high school, said she received a text message from the district. It stated that there was an incident at the high school, and there was no injury to students or staff.

Police officers will continue to be present at the high school all week, and only the main entrance to the school will be used. Students, staff and parents are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to administration.

The incident remains under investigation, Hale said.