Sheriff's Dept. Releases Details of Incident That Led to Lockdown of 2 Moorpark Schools

The following information is from the Moorpark Police Department:

On 12-5-13, at approximately 1235 hours, members of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office – Moorpark Police Department responded to a suspicious subjects call behind Walnut Canyon Elementary School in Moorpark.

Deputies learned a Campus Supervisor at Walnut Canyon Elementary School reported hearing voices coming from the open field below and behind Walnut Canyon Elementary School.  The Campus Supervisor heard the voices talk about shooting a gun, and immediately reported this to officials at the school.  School officials notified the Sheriff’s Office.  Sheriff’s deputies locked down Walnut Canyon Elementary School and Chaparral Middle School, which is located south of the open field where the voices were heard.  The City of Moorpark was notified and locked down their facilities, which were also adjacent to the open field.

Deputies quickly responded and set up a perimeter on the open field between Walnut Canyon Elementary School and Chaparral Middle School.  With the assistance of a Sheriff’s K9 and the Sheriff’s helicopter, deputies searched the open field between the schools and the surrounding areas.  No subjects were located during the extensive search, and there was no evidence located that indicated subjects were shooting in the area.

After the search was concluded, school officials and the City of Moorpark ended the lockdowns and resumed their normal schedules.