From: Kim Minugh and Hudson Sangree
Woodland High School students were released from campus at noon today after the school received a threat believed to be related to violence earlier this week, authorities said.
Nearby Lee Middle and Freeman Elementary schools, as well as Pioneer High School, followed "modified lockdown" procedures in which access was limited, but students were not released early from any of those schools, according to officials.
Police also refuted rumors that any guns had been found.
"No guns have been located on any school campus here in the city of Woodland today," said Sgt. Derrek Kaff, Woodland Police spokesman.
He also confirmed that no violence had taken place and that all security measures were precautionary.
"They're just trying to be proactive and keep kids safe," Kaff said of school officials.
Accounts differ as to the nature of the threat to Woodland High School: Kaff said he had heard a student's parent received a bomb threat via voicemail, while students interviewed outside the school said a text message had circulated warning of a drive-by shooting.
Authorities believe the scare might be linked to an incident - apparently a fight - outside Cache Creek High School on Thursday and a drive-by shooting at a non-school location that injured a 16-year-old boy Tuesday.
That afternoon, occupants of two vehicles fired at juveniles congregated at Campbell Park on Thomas Street, Kaff said. The teen victim was transported to UC Davis Medical Center and his condition is stable.
Investigators believe that shooting to be gang-related, Kaff said. An arrested has been made in connection with that shooting.
Kaff said school officials were trying to head off any gang problems today by looking for students "wearing gang clothing or flashing gang signs and then dealing with them administratively as soon as they can."
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