Phoned threat at Northwood High School in Irvine prompts lockdown

IRVINE (FOX 11) - A full-scale police emergency response Thursday at a high school in Irvine turned out to be a hoax.

Around 1:40 p.m., the Irvine Police Department said it received a phone call from someone claiming to be locked in a restroom at Northwood High School. The person claimed to have guns and explosives.

The school went on lockdown with students sheltering in place.

"Right when the police officers came in evacuate our class, I saw they had helmets on, they had bullet proof vests on, and they were holding guns, and I was like, 'Okay, this is real,'" said senior Katie Monjay.

She was tweeting during the ordeal, sharing images of police swarming the school.

Police went door to door, clearing classrooms but no one was found. Once students were sent home, Monjay said she thought about another school shooting.

On Monday, an estranged husband walked into an elementary school in San Bernardino, killing his wife who worked at the school. Two of her students were caught in the cross fire, and one of them died.

Monjay said the school has prepared them with active shooter drills before. The teenager believes she would be ready if the real thing happened.

"It's eye-opening that something wrong with certain people, that they're willing to do harm to kids."

While Irvine police believe this was a hoax, they continue to search for the person who made the call. Classes will resume as scheduled on Friday.

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