By Aaron Burgin, The Porterville Recorder
LINDSAY - Early morning reports of shots fired in the area of Steve Garvey Junior High School prompted school administrators to lock down the campus, school officials said Tuesday evening.

Numerous reports came into the city Department of Public Safety at about 8 a.m. that shots were heard in an area south of the campus, Public safety officials said.

Garvey Principal Rebecca Mestaz said school administrators then took the necessary precautionary steps to protect the pupils who were arriving at school.

“We made the call, and then set off the alarm bell and got students in a safe, locked area,” Mestaz said. “We secured the exterior doors and gates, and the bus drivers that were arriving that saw the gates locked drove away and returned when the gates were re-opened.” The lockdown lasted about a half-hour Mestaz said.

“It felt a lot longer,” Mestaz said. “We were in constant contact with the police department and when we got the all-clear, we resumed normal student activities.”

Public safety officials said they have not located any persons of interest in the incident, and haven't found any witnesses to the alleged shooting.

A letter was sent home to parents informing them of the incident, Mestaz said. Mestaz credits pupils, teachers and administrators for decisive action during the potentially dangerous situation. “I felt very good about the safety of our students,” Mestaz said.

Contact Aaron Burgin at 784-5000, Ext. 1047, or aburgin@portervillerecorder.com.

This story was published in The Porterville Recorder on March 14, 2007