Tuesday saw gun scares at Jordan High School and the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. The incidents continue a recent pattern of false gun reports at Durham schools by anonymous callers.
Just after 1 p.m., campus security at NCSSM sent out emergency alerts via text and email to initiate active shooter lockdown procedures. Minutes later, the school was in lockdown and Durham Police were on the grounds to conduct a sweep of the buildings.
“Everyone went into rooms and stayed put for about 40 minutes,” said Bryan Gilmer, chief communications officer at the school, a residential high school for 11th and 12th graders gifted in science, math or technology.
Melissa Rooney, an artist who lives on nearby Iredell Street, was working from home on Tuesday when her husband mentioned seeing a slew of cop cars outside the school.
She rushed outside in her socks to see what the commotion was. “It seemed like something big was going to happen,” she said.
Rooney counted at least 13 cop cars—all with their lights flashing—and about three ambulances.
By 1:45 p.m., the students received the all-clear, according to Gilmer. No threat was present.
The lockdown happened after campus security received a call from the Durham Police Department, Gilmer said. Durham Police reported receiving a tip about a possible active shooter on the campus. CBS 17 reported that the caller was anonymous.
The alert caught campus staff by surprise.
“We knew of nothing amiss [on campus],” said Gilmer. “So we were surprised.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Jordan High School was placed on secure status. According to WRAL, a student with a possible weapon was reported on campus, but they were no longer on campus by 12:15 p.m. Students were kept inside and doors to the school were locked until 12:30 p.m.
False alarms have been a continuing problem for schools in Durham. In December of last year, several false weapons reports occurred at Riverside High School. In February 2025, Riverside saw three false weapons reports in just five days.
In an emailed response to The 9th Street Journal, Durham Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Lewis acknowledged that false reports were a recurrent source of stress for local schools. School counselors are available to help students in the wake of these events, he said.
“We have been actively working… to determine the source of these anonymous tips,” the superintendent said. “We are committed to continuing this investigation until we have clear answers.”
“Safety remains our highest priority,” the superintendent said.
At NCSSM, Gilmer said he was reassured by the response, despite the disruption.
“We have to remain concerned about these kinds of threats, and the experience today shows that our community is prepared to respond appropriately,” he said. “So I feel heartened by that.”
When Rooney went back outside to check around 3 p.m., there was no sign of the earlier chaos.
“It happened pretty quickly and quietly,” she said.
Above: Photo of the N.C. School of Science and Mathematics by Ildar Sagdejev, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Paige Stevens
