PALO ALTO — Palo Alto High School was briefly placed under a shelter-in-place order just before noon Thursday after a man was reported to have a gun near the campus, according to authorities.
In a Thursday afternoon update, police said they had spoken to multiple witnesses who confirmed that the man was holding a phone, not a gun.
Authorities originally said that witnesses had told them they saw the man on a bike path near campus around 11:30 a.m., pointing a handgun at vehicles driving on Alma Street.
The decision to shelter in place came from school staff, according to police. The order was lifted as of 12:15 p.m. after neither the suspect or any additional witnesses were located in a search of campus and the surrounding area.
Officers remained on the scene as students returned to class.
There was no word of shots being fired, or any other reported injuries.
Update as of 12:15 p.m.: The “shelter in place” at the school has been lifted, with no additional witnesses having seen the suspect since around 11:30 a.m., and with the campus itself having been checked and cleared. Officers will stay in the area out of an abundance of caution.
— Palo Alto Police (@PaloAltoPolice) December 14, 2023