Anonymous threat prompts lockdown at two Phenix City schools, investigation underway
Two Phenix City schools were placed on lockdown Friday morning after the district received an anonymous threat, according to Phenix City Schools.
District officials said precautionary safety measures were implemented immediately to protect students and staff. Phenix City Schools said both Phenix City Elementary School and Phenix City Intermediate School entered lockdown procedures while school officials worked with Phenix City Police Department to secure the campuses.
According to a source with direct knowledge of the response, the situation escalated quickly after a threatening phone call was received in the front office. The source said a student worker who answered the call relayed that the caller threatened to come to the school within 15 minutes with a weapon and “shoot up the school.”
The source said the principal then initiated a Code Red response and contacted the neighboring campus to do the same. Within minutes, law enforcement officers and district personnel arrived, secured the front, back and sides of the building, and closed the entrance gate.
School officials later confirmed both campuses were cleared and are now out of lockdown, though additional safety measures remain in place.
“The safety and security of our students and staff remain our highest priority,” the district said in a statement. Officials added that all threats are taken seriously and handled swiftly.
The district also thanked staff, students and police officers for their professionalism and cooperation during the incident.
Police are continuing to investigate the source of the threat. No injuries were reported.
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