On November 16, 2012, at about 9:30 a.m., the principal of Flowing Wells Junior High School found a threatening note in front of the nurse’s office. The note implied the possible use of weapons, to include firearms. Reacting to this threat and in an effort to ensure the safety of students and staff, the school was put on lockdown. At approximately 9:32 a.m., the Pima County Sheriff’s Department received a 9-1-1 call advising of the situation at the school.
Deputies responded to the Flowing Wells school to assess the situation, maintain safety and begin their investigation. Deputies reported that in an effort to ensure a methodical investigation and threat assessment, the lockdown was kept in effect.
The Pima Regional Bomb Squad brought a specialty canine to the Flowing Wells school. The dog has the ability to detect explosives and firearms. In an effort to conduct the search of the school grounds as well as student’s backpacks as efficiently as possible additional resources were requested. The Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) and a specialty unit from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base both responded with one canine each. All students were individually searched for weapons as well.
No weapons were located and the lockdown was lifted at approximately 2:45 p.m. The note that was left was anonymous and detectives with the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division will continue to conduct their investigation.
Students were released as usual at the regularly scheduled time.