Police: Dobyns Bennett students “on edge” ran from school after lockdown initiated

Students that police said were already on-edge ran from Dobyns Bennett High School Wednesday afternoon when a lockdown was initiated upon reports of individuals with weapons in a nearby neighborhood.

Kingsport Police Department spokesperson Tom Patton said the report of two armed people in the Highland community was unfounded after the campus was surrounded just after 12:30 to investigate what police called unconfirmed issues of concerns. The lockdown was lifted and operations resumed after an extensive search of the school property.

Dobyns Bennett was already in a heightened state of caution when a threatening note was found inside the school on Tuesday. Detectives continue to try and find the author of the note while another strong police presence will be in place on Thursday, according to Patton.

(KCS)