Colorado High School Locked Down

(AP)  Police searched a high school room by room Thursday after a cook reported seeing two suspicious men in the building around dawn, both wearing camouflage and one in a ski mask.

Authorities said no classes or groups were meeting in Boulder High School at the time. Police sealed off the building, and school officials canceled classes for the day.

The initial search by a dozen officers and a bomb-sniffing dog turned up nothing. There was no immediate word on the results of a second, more thorough search by a SWAT team. That search included utility-access tunnels under the building, Police Chief Mark Beckner said.

Beckner said there was no indication the intruders were armed.

"This could be a spring, end-of-school-year prank. It could be a burglary. It could be kids goofing around, or it could be more serious," Beckner said. "Given the times that we live in and recent events, we have to take all precautions."

Beckner said the cook spotted the men around 6 a.m. on the first floor of the three-story building, and that they ran when she yelled at them. She described them as young but was unable to describe their faces, Beckner said.

Chris King, deputy superintendent of the Boulder Valley School District, said all the doors should have been locked then, and the school's alarm system hadn't gone off overnight. The only employees known to have been inside were the cook and two custodians, who customarily disarm the system when they arrive.

King said authorities would review recordings from 15 surveillance cameras around the outside of the school, but there are no cameras inside.

At a nearby snowboard shop, Boulder High freshman Jake Hanifin, 15, and his friends said the incident didn't sound like a prank.

"I think it's hard to believe it's a joke if a kid comes in with a ski mask," he said. "To push a joke to that limit would be pretty intense."

No threats had been made against the 1,900-student school in recent days, the police chief said. Earlier this spring, graffiti had been found inside the building saying people would die on April 19, the day before the anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings near Denver. Classes were held that day with extra security, he said.

The University of Colorado alerted students, faculty and staff on parts of the campus near the high school, but no classes or other activities were interrupted, the university said.

[clovernorth]

Ya know, alot of sociatal downfall as it pertains to school shootings, beatings, threats, and of the like can partially be attributed to the way parents today rear their kids. My pops used to kick my A**, wanna see the foot print? Granted it was probably the wrong avenue to go down, it still had the same affect. I respected my elders, knew right from wrong, and didn't get involved with hyped stupidity brought on partially by hip hop culture, and a saturation of main stream (bad news) media outlets in which they are exposed to often. A child is a parents responsibility. Problem is, most parents don't realize they are just parents in title only. How much of this sort of thing are we going to put up with until we say enough? GEEZ I'm glad I live in Alaska.

[myssi_pooh]

I have 5 children, ages 7-17. They are all decent students, kind to each other, take responsibility seriously and are just general 'good kids'.

I don't worry about them shooting up their schools

I worry about the kids they go to school WITH.

[michellem99-2009]

I am older now. I know years ago this stuff did not happen. I went to high school in a small town. The student body was about 600 all thru my 4 years there. I graduated 74. It seemed like a different world from todays students. School is place where a child should be there to learn,give his/her time to the duties of being a pupil in class being taught and learn.
The parents also have their duties. They are the children's first teacher as well as Mum/Dad.That is a 24/7 job.
If our nation's children are taught right from wrong,manners,social graces,play time,getting along with others and the like. It starts at home.
I never felt it abused when I was taught right from wrong.I sat on the naughty step at home or at school sat my desk at recess when my class mates had recess. I learnt.
Today it is no different. Mum has the duty to know what her child is taking to school.Look in his/her pack,clothes,any where Mum knows as she was a child once.
Have him/her dress properly for school.I was a girl years ago. I was never allowed to wear clothes I worn around the house. A blouse and skirt or girls slacks. Boys shirt and pants.
School was safe in my day. It should be today. It is not child abuse to have children mind.

[jimibear]

"mitch0927: Republicans and Oklahomans no exactly what to do. Demos, on the other hand, will probably drop the gun and go stick there head down into the dirt thinking that he won't find them.
Posted by rushman71 at 02:50 PM : May 10, 2007
+ report abuse"

Could we, just for once, not turn every *** story posted here into yet another tired fight between democrats and republicans? It's gotten old a long time ago.

It's puerile, childish and divisive. If we are so worried about terrorists, we need to stop fighting each other or we'll win for them.

In short - shut up and go to your rooms! :-P

[lfitts1]

You're right--that's what we need every place in the US should be like Dodge City--everybodys packing--turn every disagreement in to a 4 way free fire zone--are you out of your mind?????

[susanhelit]

Yeah, good parents, even adequate ones are great, and really help their kids. If you produce a child, it's your responsibility to care for them, stay involved with them, help them when they need it, be aware of what's going on in their life. It's a serious responsibility.




BUT.....children can't choose their parents, and shouldn't be punished just because they got bad ones. Nor do we want to just accept the cost to society of bad kids becoming criminals growing up. So, even though it's the parents responsibility, it's in all of our best interests to have society, government, schools and such help the kids that need the help.

[rushman71]

mitch0927: Republicans and Oklahomans no exactly what to do. Demos, on the other hand, will probably drop the gun and go stick there head down into the dirt thinking that he won't find them.

[gunownerdan]

This is just another reason why teachers should be allowed to bring guns to school if they are legal gun owners with a valid permit.
Criminals prefer unarmed victims!
a-human-right.com

[luckyis]

It's not about searching children. It's about spending time with your kids, talking and listening to them. And for those parents who don't take the time to do this, metal detectors to protect the rest of them.

[fastfredy1]

luckyis at

I am with you. I am the same way and I get along great with my kids and we share alot of time together. They do not look at me as an old foogie, but a cool parent that will get on them WHEN need be and it is not very often anymore other than little things around the home and some lite chores.