Santa Monica College Lockdown Lifted After No Gunman Found
Santa Monica College was placed on lockdown Tuesday after police received a telephone report of an armed man on the campus.
Dozens of Los Angeles Police combed school grounds after the call came in around 11:30 a.m. However, police said they found zero signs of a gunman or victim and lifted the lockdown soon after.
Pico Boulevard, which had been blocked off, was also re-opened.
A female student was on the phone with her mother when she heard the shots, according to the Associated Press. Her mom alerted police officials in Riverside County, who called the college.
Sgt. Richard Lewis said the student heard what she thought were two gunshots and glass breaking.
After thoroughly investigating the campus, Riverside County officials determined there was no gunman in the area.
Lewis told the Times there is a lot of construction on the campus and that could have created the noise that the student heard.
Santa Monica College has around 30,000 enrolled students and is a two-year community college. Classes were not in session but some summer courses were taking place.
Some teachers and incoming freshman were on campus grounds at the time, AP reported.