BUTLER — (UPDATED AT 11:15 A.M.)Â An undisclosed incident in the Butler community has put the district schools on code green lock down, according to the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
All Clear Fork Schools are also in lockdown. Code green refers to the schools police to lock entryways to the school in a precautionary effort to keep students safe.
Superintendent Janice Wykoff said the perimeter lockdown has been going on since 8:30 a.m. on Friday morning, students are still in classrooms learning.
“The only difference to our school day is there’s a situation in the community. We are not stopping school. We have locked the doors — just making sure our kids are safe,” she said. “Our doors are always locked, but we have law enforcement inside the building and outside the building.”
Wykoff said students are aware of the situation, and that doors will open for pick up after school.
Shelby and Pioneer schools are also reporting a “soft lockdown.”
“Allegedly there is an individual in Richland County on the run and he may be armed,” The district Facebook page said. “Our students are safe; please contact the Board Office if you have any questions.”
“We are all safe,” said Libby Nickoli, the Butler Elementary school principal.
Major Joe Masi, spokesman for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department said his department was on site in Butler.
“We did respond to the area,” Masi said. “We are going through the information to verify, but we are not aware of any immediate threat to the community.”
In an official statement, Masi reiterated Wykoff’s comments.Â
“Deputies are at the schools and in the area investigating the threat and providing extra patrol. Everyone is safe,” he said. “The Sheriff’s Office will update the public as they work through the investigation to verify the information.”
