Interlake High School closed Friday after police responded to the school shortly after 8 a.m., after receiving calls of a planned shooting.
The school was placed into lockdown following the alleged threat and rumors posted on Facebook stating there was a shooting planned there.
More than 20 officers from the Bellevue Police Department arrived on scene, canvassing the building and found no threat or any evidence of a shooting. In an effort to control the situation, each classroom was let out one-by-one as police searched investigated the scene.
Marie Leou, a 15-year-old freshman at the school said her teacher handled the lockdown very well.
“The teacher kept everything really calm,” she said. “We were a little freaked out but he was reading us the email updates from the principal so we knew it was OK.”
The situation was far more tense for Marie’s mother, Amy, who had homeschooled her daughter until this year when Marie enrolled in Interlake ‘ gifted program.
At first Amy wasn’t to get a hold of Marie, but after what she said felt like an eternity, Amy was able to text her mother that she was fine and everything was OK.
“It’s a lot tougher on the parents,” Amy said. “We’ve never gone through anything like this.”
Marie said the situation wasn’t going to keep her from attending Interlake nor did it affect her thoughts of the school.
“Anywhere you go you’re going to face situations like this,” Marie said.
Students who take Metro buses or are picked up by their parents were bused to nearby Highland Middle School at 15027 N.E. Bel-Red Road to await transportation while students who use personal transportation were escorted to Interlake’s parking lot and allowed to leave.
Although no incident took place, the Bellevue School District, in conjunction with the police decided to close the school Friday.
Bellevue Police Ofc. Alina McAnnally said no arrest had been made as of Friday afternoon and that several police officers were still on scene as the investigation into the rumored threat is ongoing.
Two parents waiting to pick up their children told The Reporter a suspicious, threatening letter was found in one of the school’s bathroom.
