Amarillo High School Placed on Lockdown After A Threat Was Received Through a National Crisis Hotline

Amarillo High School went on lockdown on Monday, August 25 around 1:27 pm.

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Students were in their 6th-period classes at the time (that included 6th-period lunch) All outside doors of the school were locked and all intersections and entrances to the school were blocked while Amarillo Police and AISD school personnel could follow up on a tip they received.  An alert went out to all parents with students at Amarillo High School.

Parents, Your student is safe, but I’m reaching out to let you know our school has been placed in a lockdown while we investigate a tip. The outside doors of our buildings are locked and students are safe inside the school building. Thank you for your understanding. We will update you once we are given the all clear to return to normal.

An update was sent to parents at 1:52 pm

AHS Parents, Your student is safe, but we want to let you know the campus is currently still under lockdown. Please do not attempt to go to the school. Due to heavy traffic and an ongoing investigation, every intersection and every entrance is blocked. We will let you know when we release the lockdown. Thank you for your understanding.

Not long after that alert another message was sent to parents at 2:12 pm.

I wanted to update you that students remain safe inside our building, as authorities continue to investigate a tip which came in earlier this afternoon. We have asked students who are currently off campus at lunch to remain off campus until they receive the go ahead from us to return. As always, we take all reports seriously, and with the help of Amarillo Police and the AISD Police Department, we investigate each report thoroughly which can take time. Due to heavy traffic and the ongoing investigation, every intersection and every entrance to the school is blocked, so please do not attempt to go to Amarillo High at this time. The campus remains in a lockdown and students are waiting inside the school, and we will let you know when we are given the go-ahead to return to normal.

Another update was sent to parents at 2:42 pm stating that an online national crisis hotline reported a threatening tip to the school.

This is an update to let you know that students remain safe inside our buildings at Amarillo High, as authorities continue to investigate a threatening tip which was reported to us from an online national crisis hotline. After the tip came in, AISD PD and Amarillo Police decided the best course of action was to immediately activate a lockdown. However, there is no active threat at the school. Officers have inspected all of the parking lots and are now thoroughly going room by room through the buildings of our campus. This is going to take some time. Due to heavy traffic and the ongoing police activity, please do not attempt to drive to campus at this time. The school will remain in a lockdown and we will let you know when we are given the go-ahead to return to normal. Thank you for your patience.

 

Speaking with my own child, who was locked in his 6th-period class during the lockdown, kept me in the loop in describing what was happening.  Immediately after receiving the notice I texted my child, if he knew what was going on.  A few seconds later, he said that the school made an announcement over the PA to the students about the lockdown.  At 2:24 he said that APD was searching his classroom and the room next door.  This was part of the sweep the police were doing to clear the building.

As a mom, it's scary to know that your child may be in danger.  However, the Amarillo Police Department and Amarillo ISD jumped into action to make sure our children are safe.  I'm thankful that they do take the tips they receive very seriously.

As of 3:19 pm, the school is still on lockdown.  We will update as soon as new information is released.

Update 4:04 pm

Amarillo Police and the AISD Police and Safety team have cleared the campus and given us the all-clear at Amarillo High School. The District takes every threat received seriously and each one is investigated thoroughly, even if it disrupts the day for an extended amount of time. We are going to dismiss students at this time. After-school activities will continue as usual. We appreciate your trust and want you to know we are always doing our best to keep students and staff safe.

What Happened at Amarillo High School?

It was a bomb threat.

The Amarillo Police Department sent out an update at 6:15 pm: Amarillo Police Officers were called to Amarillo High School at 1:15 pm on Monday, August 21, 2023, on a bomb threat.  Amarillo ISD put the school on lockdown, as APD and AISD Officers secured the school parking lots and searched the school.  Other officers including Randall County Deputies assisted in the search. Once the school was cleared students were allowed to leave the school.