Today, on what seemed like any other school day, NNHS went on lockdown at approximately 12:50 PM due to an abnormal event that remains unconfirmed by school officials.

Near the end of fourth hour, or upper-class lunch, Norman North unexpectedly went into a hard lockdown, meaning teachers and students gathered in classrooms, locked doors, and turned off lights.

The lockdown was short-lived, however, and students were allowed to go to their next hour roughly 10 minutes after the lockdown was announced.

Norman North’s principal, Dr. Peter Liesenfeld, released an email shortly after school notifying students and teachers what happened and reassuring them that everything was alright.

“As you know,” he wrote, “this afternoon Norman Police Department investigated a situation in the nearby area that put many of us on high alert. While I am very thankful for the police and their quick action, I know the toll this can take on our students, staff, and families, both mentally and emotionally. As I touched base with classes this afternoon, I could see some were struggling, and knew that all of us were impacted by the events of today in one way or another.  We allowed some time after we returned to class to decompress, and teachers worked with students process through what had occurred.”

While the all clear was given and classes continued, many students were checked out by their parents or guardians due to the unexpected lockdown.

The scene inside the school was unexpected as well. “I was just coming in from lunch, and no one was in the halls;” Teacher, Scott Oglesby said, “the school felt completely empty. The lights were all off; the place felt vacant. It was eerie.”  That’s because the students and staff were doing exactly what they have been trained to do in certain situations.

Liesenfeld praised the staff and student body in the email for their immediate response and cooperation, saying “I am so thankful for each and every one of you.”

When asked for further comment, Dr. Liesenfeld only clarified that “the Norman Police Department placed Norman North on lockout while they investigated a situation in the nearby area.” He ended his statement by saying “after investigating, they resolved the situation and lifted the lockout.”

The Norman Transcript tweeted a comment shortly after the lockout, saying “Norman North was briefly on lockdown due to a report of a road rage incident, possibly involving a gun, in the area. Norman police responded and the vehicle was not located. The lockdown has been lifted and the all clear [has been] given.”