Mistaken Report Of Gun At Petaluma School Prompts Panic: Police

PETALUMA, CA — A firework was mistaken for a gunshot Tuesday at a Petaluma school, prompting a police response when some students called 911, according to the Petaluma Police Department.

At 10:21 a.m. Tuesday, dispatchers received 911 calls from two Kenilworth Junior High School students who reported they left the school after a report there was a person on campus with a gun, Petaluma police Sgt. Paul Gilman said in a news release.

"One caller reported students were 'running everywhere' and that he had fled campus," Gilman said. "PPD Officers began to respond with lights and sirens to quickly get to campus. The student was understandably frightened and provided as much information as he could to the dispatcher."

As officers were responding, dispatchers called the school to gather more information and learned from the school office there was a report that a firework went off in a campus bathroom.

Some students mistook the noise as a gunshot and began to flee, telling other students that there was a person with a firearm on campus.

"The school requested some assistance from the police department, but they quickly had the situation under control," Gilman said. "Officers arrived on campus and assisted the staff with getting the students back into the classrooms so a full roll call and accounting of the students could happen quickly."

Police said parents seeking information about the incident should understand the school office may be overwhelmed with calls. Questions about the response can be directed to the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4372.