Muskogee Police locked down Cherokee Elementary School on South 24th Street after students told school officials they heard gunshots fired Friday.

Police Major Reggie Cotton said people in the area reported seeing a gray or silver vehicle taking off and going to an apartment complex on South 25th Street.

Police went to that area but did not find a vehicle of the description given.

“We don’t have any suspects or alleged victims,” Cotton said. “We believe shots were fired in the vicinity of the school, and we are keeping the kids inside for safety’s sake.”

About 3:40 p.m., Cotton said he was going to talk to school authorities and tell them he thought it was safe to let the children go home.

Police scoured the area until they believed any danger was over.

A man who would not identify himself said he saw the gray car leaving the school area, that a black woman was driving and a black man was in the passenger seat. He said some men were in the back seat. He said it was a 1997 model. He also said it seemed to be chasing a blue Chevrolet — an ’84 or ’85 model.

Cherokee Principal Daphne Cotton said the school was on lockdown for about 45 minutes.

“A parent came in and reported that there was a potentially threatening situation,” Cotton said. She would not say if the parent had reported a shooting.

Some kids had been outside flying kites for a class activity, she said. “We had the kids come in.”

During the lockdown, school social worker Peggy Hanson looked for parents of younger children.

“I’ve let parents with little ones go into the school,” she said.

Children started streaming out of the school at around 3:45 p.m. Several parents held them close to their side as they walked.

John Smith, who was walking across campus with his four children, said his wife called him reporting that their son had texted them about hearing shots.

“I just heard some gun shots,” said fourth-grader John Smith Jr. “And I told the teacher we heard gunshots.”

Fifth-grader Josh Smith said he was outside at the time.

“We took off running,” he said.

Parents arriving at school to pick up their children said they were not aware of what was happening. Still, some parents and children reported hearing secondhand that there had been a shooting.

“I don’t know what’s going on, I know they’re on lockdown,” said Kacy Rozell, who was picking up a nephew.

“My daughter came up and told me,” said Paula Adamson, who waited in front of the school to pick up another child.

Third-grader Asia Adamson said she was at home with a sinus infection and “I heard it from my Uncle Mike.”

“All I heard was that there was some shooting going on close to the school,” said parent Tina Townsley. “When I came up here, police cars were arriving, so I came to see what was happening. Witnesses inside the building said there was some shooting going around.”



Reach Donna Hales at 918-684-2923 or Click Here to Send Email



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