A report of gunshots in a Casper neighborhood Tuesday prompted an hourslong lockdown of four local schools may be the result of “an ongoing dispute between two groups,” the Casper Police Department reports.
Officers were in the area near Bretton Drive and Dorset Street “when they heard gunshots come from an unknown location” just before 9:30 a.m., the department reports.
They immediately notified the Natrona County School District of a possible threat in the area, which led to the precautionary lockdown of Kelly Walsh High School, Verda James Elementary School and Woods Learning Center. Also locking down was Casper Christian School in the Restoration Church.
By 11 a.m., the area was relatively quiet with some police presence and a drone flying overhead. That’s also about the same time the Natrona County Sheriff’s Office said traffic in the neighborhood was permitted again, but there was an increased law enforcement presence.
By noon, the schools had resumed normal operations, the school district reported.
"Law enforcement has released the schools for normal school operations," says the district's update. "A law enforcement presence remains in the area as part of their ongoing investigation."
No injuries have been reported, and the CPD also hasn’t reported if there are any suspects or arrests made.
“A thorough search of the area for the source of the gunshots was conducted over several hours,” the department reports. “The shots fired investigation is considered active and ongoing.”
This story will be updated as more information is available.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
