Highline College Lockdown Today: Washington Campus Secured After Reports of Gunfire — Police Find Zero Evidence of Shooting
Highline College in Des Moines, Washington was placed on lockdown after multiple reports of possible gunfire on campus prompted an immediate and large-scale police response. The college, located approximately 17 miles southwest of Seattle near Pacific Highway South, activated full emergency protocols as soon as the reports came in, with campus-wide alerts sent via text message, social media, and loudspeaker telling students and staff to lock down all classrooms and offices immediately. “Lockdown — This is not a drill,” the college’s official alert read. “We have reports of gunfire on campus. Please lock down all offices and classrooms until further notice.”
The reports of gunfire emerged after multiple people called 911 to report hearing what sounded like popping sounds near the library building on campus. The sounds triggered immediate panic among students and staff, with witnesses describing people screaming and running from the area. Law enforcement agencies from across the region responded within minutes, including officers from Des Moines, Renton, and Kent police departments, the Washington State Patrol, and multiple fire agencies. Three SWAT teams were deployed to the scene as a precaution, and officers systematically went through campus buildings one at a time to clear them and search for any shooter or victims.
At the time of the lockdown, approximately 5,000 students and staff were on campus. Students were instructed to remain inside locked classrooms with windows and doors closed and to await instructions from law enforcement before moving. Pacific Highway South near the campus was temporarily closed as police established a perimeter, and southbound lanes of nearby Interstate 5 were also briefly shut down due to the police response before being reopened. Parents of students gathered outside the campus perimeter, anxious for news about their children.
After a thorough sweep of the entire Highline College campus, law enforcement delivered a definitive conclusion. “We have zero evidence of a shooting,” said Assistant Chief Rafael Padilla of the Kent Police Department. “We have physically walked the entire campus.” No shooter was found, no victims were located, and no evidence of actual gunfire was discovered anywhere on campus. Police indicated they were investigating the possibility that what people heard may have been fireworks or firecrackers set off near the library building. Two students were treated at the scene, both for anxiety and asthma-related symptoms brought on by the stress of the situation — not from any physical injuries.
Highline College interim president Jeff Wagnitz confirmed that the college had previously drilled for exactly this type of scenario. “We went on immediate lockdown, we have drilled for these types of events in the past,” he said. Following the all-clear from law enforcement, the college announced that all classes for the remainder of the day were cancelled. Students and staff were gradually released from their lockdown positions and escorted off campus by police as buildings were cleared one by one.
The incident caused significant fear and disruption across the campus community, particularly given the heightened national anxiety around school safety. Highline College is Washington State’s largest community college, with more than 10,000 full-credit students enrolled. The college has stated it will continue to work with law enforcement to review security protocols and ensure the campus community feels safe and supported following the incident. Des Moines police are handling the investigation into what exactly caused the sounds that triggered the lockdown, including a review of surveillance footage and interviews with 911 callers.
Our thoughts are with the students, staff, and families of Highline College who experienced fear and uncertainty during today’s lockdown. We are relieved that no injuries were reported and that the situation was resolved safely. This post will be updated as the police investigation into the cause of the reported sounds continues.