Lockdown at lifted at River Oaks Middle School after pellet gun found
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Students and staff at River Oaks Middle School in Raleigh spent much of the morning and early afternoon on lockdown after a student told administrators another student had a weapon.
The school contacted Wake County Public School System Security and law enforcement after the report Tuesday around 8:45 a.m.
Officers searched the school and later said they found a pellet gun.
The school alerted parents to the lockdown and told them all students were safe. However, many parents went to the middle school to pick up their children.
Tyrone Archie tells ABC11 he bolted from his job in Durham after getting a notification his daughter's school was in a Code Red lockdown.
He said she was texting him that she was scared.
"It's becoming very stressful with these guns and stuff like that, the schools," said Archie.
Other parents also raced over to River Oaks Middle School and then waited for their children.
"It's scary especially driving up here and seeing all these cops over here," said parent Denis Calix.
ABC11 reached out to WakeMed Psychiatrist Dr. Nerissa Price about today's lockdown and asked if she has any suggestions for parents in talking with their kids.
Price says it's helpful for parents to listen and try to get a sense how they're feeling.
"Make it a part of your daily check-in with them. On their way to school and with a captive audience in the back side, ask them 'How are you feeling about today? And are there any worries?" said Prince. "Recognizing that children might not express their anxiety, but you may notice it in their behaviors."
Deputies said several students were allegedly passing the pellet gun back and forth to each other.
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