Lake Charles, Louisiana - The Calcasieu Parish School Board has released an update regarding Barbe High School being placed under a lockdown earlier today, and a heavy police presence at the school. Barbe High School in Lake Charles was placed under a precautionary lockdown following a phone call alleging a student had a gun on campus, according to the Calcasieu Parish School Board.
School administration immediately initiated lockdown procedures and contacted School Resource Officers after receiving the threat call to the front office. A school employee activated the district's emergency alert system, known as Rave, which automatically notifies multiple law enforcement agencies including the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, Lake Charles City Police Department and Louisiana State Police.
The emergency alert system triggered a significant law enforcement response on campus as designed, school officials said. Officers conducted a comprehensive search of every building on the Barbe High School campus before giving district personnel the all-clear to resume normal activities.
No weapon or credible threat was discovered during the investigation, according to the school board's statement.
The lockdown affected some students who were returning to campus from off-campus classes. Staff at nearby S.J. Welsh Middle School accommodated these Barbe students until the situation was resolved and normal operations resumed.
School officials emphasized that all safety procedures and protocols functioned as intended during the incident. The district expressed appreciation for parents' patience during the emergency response and praised the coordinated efforts of school staff and law enforcement agencies.
The Calcasieu Parish School Board highlighted that student, faculty and staff safety remains the top priority. Officials commended Barbe High School's administration and staff for their calm and thorough handling of the situation.
Law enforcement agencies involved in the response included Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lake Charles City Police Department, and Louisiana State Police. The incident concluded without injury or the discovery of any weapons on school property.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.