Social media photo of two students with what appeared to be real firearms in Ferndale schools.
FOX 2 - A lockdown has been lifted at Ferndale High School and middle school Tuesday due to students bringing what appeared to be firearms to class.
The backstory:
This morning, students were reported as having items that looked like firearms, in a message sent from the school district to parents.
Both were high school students and were identified and removed from school, according to the district.
A classmate told FOX 2 that one of the students was smoking in the back of the classroom when police entered, and was removed. Ferndale school officials refute that, claiming it is false.
Officials: Students had lookalike guns
Dig deeper:
"The items were determined not to be real firearms," said a statement from the school district. "The students involved were identified and removed from the building, and their families have been contacted. This was an isolated incident, and there is no ongoing threat to our schools."
The school district said that even when items aren't real, bringing anything that looks like a weapon to school is taken seriously.
Ferndale police is investigating the incident.
"It causes real fear and pulls emergency responders into action," the district said. "The students involved will face consequences under the Student Code of Conduct, and the Ferndale Police Department is continuing its investigation."
For students who felt traumatized by the incident, the school district is offering counselors for those who need it.
"We're grateful to our staff and the Ferndale Police Department for their quick response, and to our students for following lockdown procedures so well." the statement said. "Please take a moment tonight to talk with your child about why look-alike weapons are never a joke."
The Source: Information for this report is a statement by Ferndale Public Schools released to parents and a social media photo shared to FOX 2 of two of the students with lookalike weapons.