Parkway Schools Practice 'Lockdown' Drills Similar to Shooter School

Officials in a Cleveland, OH suburb said student safety "lockdown" drills saved lives and possible injuries in a deadly shooting spree by a high school teen, early Monday.

One student was dead and four others wounded at Chardon, OH high school. The student shooter, a boy, was in custody.

Officials at Chesterfield-based Parkway School District said students at Parkway drill for safety/emergency "lockdown" situations.

"Like everyone else, we're in shock and heartbroken for those involved (in Ohio)," said Paul Tandy, a Parkway district spokeman and director of communications. "It's such a tragedy."

Lockdown, lockdown lockdown

The Parkway lockdown system includes students and staff gathering swiftly in rooms and locking doors, turning out lights and computer monitors, closing windows, shades and blinds, and staying out of sight—essentially hiding quietly until pre-arranged codes alert all-clear, for example. There are numerous scenarios.

According to CNN News, in the Ohio shooting the school principal said over the intercom system: Go into lockdown! This meant the teacher locked the room door and students huddled next to a wall that couldn't be seen from the door window, CNN News said.

CNN said the student shooter stood up in the cafeteria during an early-morning gathering there, and started firing a handgun. A teacher—who is also a football coach—chased the shooter out of the school.

Students were texting each other on cell phones while in "lockdown" safety/emergency mode, some not knowing whether it was a drill or not, CBS News reported.

An Ohio school student speaking on CNN said the intensity of the principal's voice led him and others with him to believe the "lockdown" was not a drill.

The same student praised the football coach who chased the shooter, saying he was "the kind of guy, teacher, who would take a bullet for us."

Both CBS New and CNN identified the shooter as TJ Lane, a student at the school. 

The shooter is a juvenile, police said, at a 4 p.m. ET press conference in front of a school. Officials said 9-1-1 tapes would not be released immediately.

After a deadly Colorado high school massacre nearly 13 years ago, referred to as "Columbine" after the school's name, many school districts require lockdown drills.

Calll 440-279-2009 ext. 4 to get updates from Chardon police.