Beverly Hills Schools Will Have Increased Patrols After Texas Shooting

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Beverly Hills schools will have increased patrols in response to Tuesday's school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

At least 19 children and two adults were killed in a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on Tuesday, according to The Texas Tribune. The shooting sent shockwaves across the nation, marking the second-deadliest shooting at an elementary, middle or high school since the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, according to The New York Times.

The Beverly Hills Police Department and the city's private security will increase patrols near the district's schools in the coming days, BHPD Chief Mark Stainbrook told the Beverly Hills City Council on Tuesday.

Read More: Texas School Shooting: What We Know About Uvalde Victims

There were no known threats to any Beverly Hills schools on Tuesday, Stainbrook said.

The department will continue to work closely with the Beverly Hills Unified School District, state and federal law enforcement to ensure the schools remain safe.

Stainbrook urged community members to step forward if they see any suspicious or threatening behaviors related to local schools.

"I’ve been doing this job a long time and the one thing you always hear is after a shooting happens, somebody knew something. … The key is getting that information to law enforcement before something happens. That's the best thing everybody can do so we can stop the incident before it happens," Stainbrook said.

Residents have shown concern about copycat shootings happening at local schools, Councilmember Bob Wunderlich said. Stainbrook assured the council Beverly Hills law enforcement is prepared and there is no known threat to local schools.

Local authorities on Thursday responded to a potential threat to Beverly Hills High School after someone posted a photo on social media pointing a so-called "airsoft" gun at the campus. Students and staff were ordered to shelter in place, but police never thought there was an active threat to the school.