A tense and frightening situation unfolded at Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Tuesday morning following reports of an alleged active shooter on campus. The incident triggered an immediate lockdown at the school, as local law enforcement and emergency personnel responded in full force to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Chesapeake Police Department confirmed that they received reports of an active shooter at Western Branch High School just before 10:00 a.m. Officers were dispatched to the scene within minutes, and the school was placed under a full lockdown as per established safety protocols. Out of an abundance of caution, nearby schools in the district were also briefly secured as law enforcement assessed the situation.
Students and faculty were instructed to shelter in place while heavily armed officers swept the building, classroom by classroom. Parents, notified by emergency alerts and social media, rushed to the school’s perimeter, anxiously waiting for information as the incident unfolded.
Initial reports of an active shooter sent shockwaves through the community, prompting a rapid and coordinated emergency response that included the Chesapeake Police Department, Virginia State Police, fire and rescue services, and tactical units trained to respond to mass-casualty threats. Within approximately 90 minutes, police confirmed that no active shooter was found inside the building, and there were no reported injuries.
Authorities later said that the call may have been part of a “swatting” incident — a dangerous and illegal practice in which false reports of violence or threats are made to provoke a major police response. Investigators are working to trace the origin of the call and determine whether it is connected to other similar false reports made in school districts across the country in recent months.
“We take every threat seriously, especially when it involves the safety of our schools,” said Chesapeake Police Chief Kelvin Wright at a press briefing following the lockdown. “While this turned out to be a false alarm, it was treated as real from the beginning, and we are grateful that no one was hurt.”
The school’s lockdown was lifted in the early afternoon, and students were released to their families after officers completed a thorough search of the premises. School administrators assured parents that counseling and mental health resources would be made available for students and staff impacted by the traumatic event.
Western Branch High School, one of the largest high schools in Chesapeake, serves more than 2,000 students. The incident has left the community shaken and renewed concerns about the safety of schools across the region.
“We were terrified,” said one student, who was texting their parents from under a desk during the lockdown. “I kept thinking, ‘Is this really happening?’”
School officials thanked first responders for their swift and professional actions and reiterated the importance of emergency preparedness drills, which they said helped students and staff remain calm under pressure.
Chesapeake Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jared Cotton released a statement calling the incident “deeply disturbing,” and vowed to work closely with law enforcement to ensure such threats are prevented in the future.
As the investigation continues, police urge anyone with information related to the false report to contact Chesapeake Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
