Playground aide report prompted lockdown

A Zephyr Cove Elementary School playground aide reported seeing a man dressed in black carrying something that looked like a rifle during recess around 11:30 a.m. today, prompting a lockdown at the elementary school and neighboring high school.

Douglas County School District Director of Human Resources Rich Alexander said the aide contacted the school's administration, who called the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

"She took all the kids inside and contacted the administration," said Alexander. "The front office then called 911."

Alexander said after the call, teachers and staff followed lockdown procedure, securing windows and doors and closing blinds.

"The students spent about three hours under their desks," said Alexander. "Teachers tried to have them work on stuff on the floor, but it was important to keep everyone low."

Alexander said he was glad that after a thorough police search outside both Zephyr Cove and adjacent Whittell High School no man was found.

"All staff and students have been dismissed, and everyone is safe," he said. "It will be school as usual tomorrow."