Church and school plunged into lockdown as police swarm town | World | News

Police officers stormed a small town in North Carolina on Thursday following report of a shooting threat made towards a church. The Episcopal Church in Highlands, a daycare within the church and the nearby K-12 Highlands School were placed in a lockdown following the report. 

Moreover, people have been urged to avoid the town centre, including Main Street, Church Street, and 5th Street, for the time being, and shops have been asked to close for safety reasons. The town of Highlands also sent a notification to residents, stating: “Shooting threat near Highlands Episcopal Church. Please avoid downtown until further notice.”

Several roads near the church have also been blocked off. 

Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor said a 911 call was made on Thursday by an individual claiming to have a gun and have a daycare at the church within their line of sight. 

Highlands Police, the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, the Macon County SWAT Team as well as emergency services are attending  the scene, with officers looking for the person who made the alleged threat. 

The mayor also said a bomb threat was made too, which prompted the Asheville bomb squad to arrive to the scene.  

The alleged threat is not believed to be an hoax. Officials said a second call came in reporting a person who matched the description of the person making the threat.

Concerned people have taken to social media for updates, with one asking on Facebook: “Any updates other than it’s active? Was someone injured or was it a threat?”

Another replied: “We are still on lockdown here in town, still active as far as I know.”