CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Rossview Road was backed up for miles in both directions Tuesday afternoon as concerned parents swarmed to Rossview Elementary School over fears that someone inside had a gun.
Police and deputies roamed the sidewalks outside the school, holding tightly to their rifles and clad in bulletproof vests as they tried to manage the crowd. The road leading into the school was filled with ambulances and police and Sheriff’s Office cars. Outside, families waited anxiously for news, praying for their children’s safety.
The waiting was hard, and many parents paced back and forth with rising frustration as the minutes ticked by. Updates were vague and scarce as law enforcement searched inside and outside the school.
“We’re mommas,” Alyssa Pipkins told Clarksville Now. “We want to make sure they are OK.”
Pipkins said she is normally the one to take her younger sister to school. She woke up and saw the notifications about a possible gun threat, and her sister was already there.
“They’re doing a great job,” Pipkins said as she watched the police moving in and out of the school. “But it’s just hard to see.”
“I heard them say they could go to the auxiliary gym, which made feel better,” said Ebony Pass, a Rossview mom. “They felt safe enough to move them from their classrooms.”
According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, at about 9:30 a.m. Rossview Elementary was placed on lockdown, with the high school and middle school on lockout, after a child said they had seen someone wearing black carrying a gun.
Drivers reported seeing dozens of MCSO vehicles rushing to the school from several directions to respond.
Clarksville Police Sgt. Johnny Ferguson entered the school within two minutes of receiving the call, according to CPD.
“We want to reiterate our appreciation for the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Clarksville Police Department for their rapid response and bravery to enter the building with no hesitation to keep our students and employees safe,” Johnson said.
Law enforcement found no threats inside or outside the school. CMCSS spokesman Anthony Johnson said they also reviewed video surveillance footage and didn’t seen any corroboration of the student’s report.
As the news broke that the “all clear” had been given, police tried to manage the crowd, but several parents tried to rush past the perimeter. Although there was a general consensus of relief, some families were overcome with emotion.
By 11:30 a.m., school resumed with additional law enforcement on campus. Many parents chose to check their children out anyway. CMCSS sent additional counselors, social workers and support staff to the school for students and employees.
