From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE –UPDATE 5:43 p.m. ATF Special Agent in Charge David Hyche confirmed Wednesday night that suspicious device found on a vehicle at Magnolia Elementary School contained explosive material. Agents did a 12 inch by 12 inch grid search of the area after the package was shot with a water filled shotgun shell to disable the device.
Sources say the explosive material was believed to be gunpowder. Wires and a digital timer were visible when the package was discovered following a 911 call reporting a Hispanic man was seen leaving the package on the school ground.
UPDATE 12:33 p.m.– According to Captain Bridges, the bomb squad successfully neutralized the package just before noon, and the FBI will examine the device to see if it contained explosives.
Officers have blocked off the parking lot to preserve evidence, and an investigation is underway. There is currently no information on who placed the package.
Parents are now welcome to check their children out using the bus line.
UPDATE 12:12 p.m.– According to Trussville City Schools Superintendent Pattie Neill, all schools were placed under soft lock down during the investigation.
UPDATE 12:07 p.m.– The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad disarmed the package through the use of a disruptor, according to on site officials. The school has been downgraded to a soft lock down, and children are currently being returned to their classrooms. According to Trussville City School Board President Sid McNeal, officers are working to establish a protocol allowing parents to pick up their children.
TRUSSVILLE –Captain Jeff Bridges of the Trussville Police Department said a 911 caller on Wednesday morning told police a bomb had been placed in front of Magnolia Elementary School in Trussville.
The caller said he saw a Hispanic male place a package in front of the school. Officers arrived to find a box with wires and a timer attached and placed the school on lock down. The package was on a vehicle on the south end of the parking lot.
The Jefferson county Sheriff’s Office bomb squad was called to the school. Those officers are on site at this time.
“The bomb squad will remove the package to the woods x-ray it and shoot it,” Bridges said.
According to Bridges, all the students are safe and in the hardened room inside the school. Trussville police officers are inside with them.
“The best thing for parents to do is stay away from the school right now,” Bridges said. “The kids are watching movies and they’re safe, and we have people with them.”
Bridges said, “The school will remain on lock down until the issue is resolved.”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
29 Comments
Layne Welch
Tara Smith McCay
Patty Thompson Davis
Was this a bomb?
Jennifer Chinnis Lawley
So thankful for our Administration, teachers, Staff and TPD that kept our kids calm AND safe.
Matt Coleman
Yes if it contained explosive material !
Meredith Ward Erwin
.
Matt Coleman
What the hell is wrong with people ? Great job from school ,and police
Patience Kleber Itson
Good grief! The world is crazy! How do I find out if Riley’s zoned for this school for next year?
Justin Williamson
Somewhere on the Trussville city schools site they have a list of addresses
Marah Small
No school is a immune to this sadly. Glad everyone was okay.
Caprice ZyA'udia Floyd
Camry Floyd
Terri Cone Massey
What is wrong with people????? Those kids did nothing to deserve being in harms way!!!
Hans Lemons
Beyond strange
Anne Snider Steward
Prayers the FBI and TPD will find this POS.
Kae Hall Norris
Trussvillecityschools.com Review the route list under Transporation.
Chuck Biddinger
A few years it was no where near here. Not it is here. Sad world we live in.
Chuck Biddinger
A few years it was no where near here. Not it is here. Sad world we live in.
DT Reach
PLease define ‘suspicious’…… and in what were the ‘explosive materials’…. and this was THURSDAY NIGHT….. Uhm, what is TODAY?????
Brett Taylor
Homeschool your kids.
Shannon Harris
Hopefully most people work
Brook Romano
Any news on if they found who did this ?
DeAndra Price
Not that I’ve found and I’m struggling sending my baby to school this morning. It just was way to close for comfort.
Teresa Roper-Edgil
Yes!
Teresa Roper-Edgil
From what I’ve been told they did an amazing job
Teresa Roper-Edgil
Regardless Trussville is an AMAZING school one of the best.
Teresa Roper-Edgil
I thought the same
Teresa Roper-Edgil
I’m so sorry Dee buy gotta give the staff credit. It truly sounds like they did an amazing job protecting them♡
Brook Romano
DeAndra Price wow I don’t have a kid in school yet but I can understand struggling with it! I just wanna know whoever did it gets caught. I don’t understand how people can even have a want to hurt others like that. America should be a safe place and it’s sad that it’s not as safe as it should be. And I understand the staff and faculty did a great job and all which is good but as a parent it doesn’t mean it’s not a struggle. My little girl is two but if she were in that school I would have probably been flipping out too. But I just pray nothing like this happens again and that they catch that guy!
DeAndra Price
Teresa Roper-Edgil absolutely I’ve given them credit. They did great.
Teresa Roper-Edgil
I am so sorry girl. I’d be scared to death