Sheriff: Air Force Academy put on lockdown, but no shooter found

Credit: Michael Reaves

Credit: Michael Reaves

The Air Force Academy was put on lockdown late Friday after a report of a possible shooter at the academy's preparatory school, the Denver Post reported. However, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office later posted on its Twitter feed that it had completed a search and found no active shooter or anyone injured.

Text alerts were sent to airmen on the 18,500-acre campus warning of a possible threat, and messages provided to the Gazette in Colorado Springs showed the campus went on lockdown at approximately 10 p.m., the Post reported.

The school made headlines this week after five black students were targeted with racial slurs left on message boards outside dorm rooms.

The Air Force Academy's superintendent, Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria, had harsh words for those who posted the message.

"There is absolutely no place in our Air Force for racism -- it's not who we are, nor will we tolerate it in any shape of fashion. Period. Those who don't understand that are behind the power curve and better catch up," ABC News reported.

Silveria said during his address to the cadet wing and the prep school students Thursday, "If you can't treat someone with dignity and respect, then you need to get out. If you can't treat someone from another gender whether it's a man or a woman with dignity and respect, then you need to get out. If you demean someone in any way, then you need to get out. And if you can't treat someone from another race or a different colored skin with dignity and respect, then you need to get out.

About the Author