West ISD placed on lockdown April 18 after student typed reference to gun in Google slides presentation

WEST, Texas (KWTX) - The West Independent School District was placed on lockdown April 18 after the school’s security software detected a student typing threatening language in reference to a gun in a Google slides presentation, the district told KWTX.

West ISD said its Gaggle Safety Team sent administrators an alert about the student’s message at 1:47 p.m.

“We received a notification from Gaggle, it’s our filter system, that there was some inappropriate language being typed into a Google product,” Assistant Superintendent Amanda Adams said.

West Middle and High School immediately enacted their Emergency Operations Plan and were put on hold while campus police found the student, according to West ISD.

West ISD says students in the classrooms were informed of the incident and searched, and that the incident has been referred to law enforcement.

“It’s important that they do not type anything inappropriate, say anything inappropriate,” Adams said. “Like students take it very seriously that our safety is very important, and we’ll address any safety concern it is.”

The schools were released from their hold at 3:11 p.m. and were scheduled to be released at their usual dismissal time, according to West ISD.

West ISD Police Chief Matt Overcash said the boy was taken to the Bill Logue Juvenile Justice Center and is being detained on a false alarm or report complaint.

For any additional information, West ISD says to contact their Administration Building at 254-981-2000.

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