Girls who saw masked gunman at Kent school made it up, police say .

KING 5 News ^ | 9-30-11

[NavyCanDo]

RENTON, Wash. – Three girls who claimed they saw a masked gunman on their elementary school campus Friday are under scrutiny after police said they made the story up.

The girls claimed they saw a masked man with a gun in a school bathroom around 1:15 p.m. at Carriage Crest Elementary.

However, after a staggering police response, nothing was found. Investigators said it was all a hoax.

The school was placed in lockdown for a search. More than 40 police vehicles were called to the school, and officers went room to room looking for the man.

[NavyCanDo]

This was a terrifying time for us. My son is in 4th grade in this school. We live close enough to notice the three police helicopters hovering over the school. And a parent driving by our house stopped and said there were dozens of police cars including SWAT surrounding the school. I hopped in my car and drove as close as I could get and was able to talk to bystanders on the street, who had just learned that is was all a hoax.

There were 42 Police vehicles there from 8 different jurisdictions at the school. It was unreal. They were taking this vary seriously, and rightfully so, after a gunman the other day was walking towards a school about 20 miles away from us, He was shot and killed by police in a shootout before reaching the school.

Why would anyone make something like this up? I does appear they did. The police said the three girls stories had too many inconsistencies.

[Ken H]

This is a little more serious than getting your tongue stuck on a flag pole at recess. Holy moly!

[FlyVet]

Why would anyone make something like this up?

"I wanna be famous!"

[FredZarguna]

This is a little more serious than getting your tongue stuck on a flag pole at recess. Holy moly!

"But those who did this, know their blame, and I am sure that is far worse than any punishment."

[Loud Mime]

I hope these three girls don’t end up going to Duke University.

[21twelve]

Especialy coming after the actual shooter at the Issaquah school last weekend. That must have been real scary for you.

I was about 4th or 5th grade and played hooky from school with a buddy one day. We just hung out in the woods near the school. When we realized that our moms’s would find out, we made up a story that we had been abducted by some older boys. I even scratched my wrists with barbed wire!

I’m guessing we didn’t sound too convincing. My mom asked how many older boys there were. (Dang - we hadn’t thought of that!) She called my buddy’s mom and no doubt got a different answer. But she hung up the phone and said something like “We have to catch those boys! I’ll call the police.”

I don’t think there was 911 back then, and about half-way through her dialing I interrupted “Um....mom....”

[ridesthemiles]

Fine the parents for the cost of the police response.

Kick these kids OUT of tht school.

Some needs to pay for this. These kids need to realize there are consequences for their actions.

[Right Wing Assault]

Three girls who claimed they saw a masked gunman on their elementary school campus Friday are under scrutiny

Ooh! Scrutiny! I'm skeered! Please don't srutinize me!! Ha, ha, ha!

Someone should be whipping their butts.

[momtothree]

I seriously cannot imagine what YOU went through as a parent. The fear must have been completely overwhelming. I am so sorry that something like this happened to you. I think the girls should be expelled IMHO. Let the parents deal with either homeschooling them or paying for private school. Either that, or the parents should pay for all those emergency services. Every drop of gas put into a helicopter or a police vehicle. Is your son okay or is he still frightened over this ordeal?

[NavyCanDo]

My son said he did fine, though he didn't like how long the lock-down took. He was in lock down in music class, and said some of the kids thought it was just another drill for some time, because they were not aware of all the police action just outside. Officers did come to the class door once to check on them. My son was so excited about his 10th Birthday party that afternoon that this as all quickly forgotten.

But, you know these lock-down drills got some of these kids very jumpy. Last week I had to return my son to his class to retrieve his homework, and I knocked on the rooms outside door and peeked through its windows, and two girls dove under their desk thinking I was an intruder.

[A_perfect_lady]

Man, if I’d pulled a stunt like that, either my grandma, mom, or step-dad would have beat my butt till their arm was exhausted, and then switched arms. Probably would’ve taken turns.

[momtothree]

I am glad that your son focused on a happy/fun event later that afternoon. Not a great way to spend that time on his 10th birthday. I can only imagine that thought entered your mind as well (it would have entered mine in a terrified way). I do feel sorry for the two girls who dove under their desk thinking you were an intruder. That type of instinct reaction, IMHO, is indicative of the fear our young people are forced to deal with. At ten, they should be focused on what they are going to wear for Halloween or the next day’s spelling test... not if the knock on the door is an intruder wanting to kill them.