(Updated at 8:55 p.m.) Wakefield High School and Claremont Elementary School were secured today in response to reports of gunfire in nearby Bailey’s Crossroads.
The secure-the-building status has since been lifted, an Arlington Public Schools spokesman told ARLnow shortly after 1 p.m.
Police initially believed that someone armed with a rifle in a high-rise building damaged several vehicles in the Crossroads Place shopping center along Route 7, according to scanner traffic. Fairfax County police, including the county’s police helicopter, searched for the shooter for hours.
Later Friday, FCPD announced that detectives determined that the shots were fired from the ground and not from a rifle.
Officers were first dispatched to the scene around 11:15 a.m. after someone reported hearing a loud noise and finding a hole in their car’s rear window.
FCPD told our sister site FFXnow that this was not considered an active shooter situation. No additional shots were fired and there have been no reports of injuries.
Route 7 was completely blocked by police between S. Jefferson Street and Carlin Springs Road for an extended period of time but has since reopened. Arlington County officers assisted with the road closure. People in the Bailey’s Crossroads area were urged to shelter in place.
Officers remain in the area continuing to investigate. Please continue to avoid the area and stay sheltered in place.
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) September 23, 2022
The following email was sent to Wakefield High School families shortly after noon.
Dear Families,
Wakefield has been notified of an incident involving police activity near the school. As a precaution, we have placed the school in Secure-the-Building* status. This means that all doors are locked and no one can leave or enter the building as a precaution.
Updates will be communicated via School Talk.
*What is the Secure-the-Building Status?
This action is activated when there is a reported threat or hazard outside of the school building. Secure uses the security of the physical facility to act as protection. All students and staff are brought into the secure building and all exterior doors are locked. Classes continue uninterrupted inside the building.
The search for the shooter was still ongoing as of 4 p.m.
Your safety is our priority. Officers remain in the area searching. Please continue to avoid the area & shelter in place. Anyone w/info please call 911.
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) September 23, 2022
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