Prop gun prompts lockdown at Golden High School in Colorado, students released from class for the day

All students at Golden High School northwest of Denver were released from class for the day on Monday morning. The school was initially placed on lockdown about 8:15 a.m. for what the school called "precautionary measures."

Just after noon, the Golden Police Department posted an update of what prompted the lockdown. Officers responded to the high school following a Safe2Tell report indicating a student "holding what looks like a firearm in cafeteria."

Jeffco Public School's Department of School Safety also responded to the high school to assist with the investigation. 

Officers located the student in class and determined the reported weapon was actually a cardboard prop gun that investigators said was "briefly shown to a fellow classmate and not used to threaten other students." 

The school was placed on lockdown while officers conducted multiple protective sweeps throughout the building. 

Jeffco Public Schools released this statement at the time, "Student safety is always our top priority, and we will continue to follow district safety procedures in any situation that arises."

After the initial search of the building, school officials decided to release the students at 9:30 a.m. with the following guidelines:

Students Who Walk or Drive - Students have been released to go home on their own.
 
Students Who Ride the Bus - All students who ride the bus will take the bus as usual and buses are en route to pick up students now. Buses will come in on the roundabout off of Jackson Street. 
 
Students Who Get Picked Up - Families will pick up their student(s) in the main parking lot. The Department of School Safety and Golden High School staff will assist students in getting safely to their vehicles.  

Jeffco Public Schools said the staff will remain at the school until all students have been picked up or have left on their own.

No criminal charges will be filed according to Golden police.