Area schools locked down
Wingate, Gallup-McKinley on lockdown when shots are heard

Cars sit parked along Hwy 400 on Thursday afternoon as police shut down the highway after receiving a report of shots fired at one of the Wingate High School dormotories. Nobody was injured and the police continue to investigate but have no suspects in the incident. [Photo by Jeff Jones/Independent]

By Leslie Wood
Staff writer

GALLUP — Gallup-Mckinley County Schools and Wingate High School were on temporary lockdown Thursday afternoon while authorities investigated a report of gun shots at the Wingate campus.

Capt. Dominique Pargas of the New Mexico State Police said Wingate administrative staff called police when they received a report of a student hearing possible gun shots minutes before noon.

Officials made the decision to lock down the campus, and pupils waited in the dorm area while officers searched the campus for anything suspicious.

Meanwhile, Gallup-McKinley County School officials also made the decision to lock down all of its campuses while the report was being investigated.

Officers shut down the entrance to New Mexico Highway 400 to block access to the Wingate campus, but later reopened the road to oncoming traffic. However, officers remained stationed at the entrances to the school campus.

The campus and surrounding streets remained relatively quiet and only school security guards and officers walked along the streets.

Pargas said the incident was not “an active shooting situation” and that officers recommended both school districts re-open their campuses at about 1:15 p.m.

“It’s our opinion that those schools should reopen as well,”Pargas said of Gallup-McKinley County Schools. “ ... There were no signs of an active shooter.”

He said authorities are investigating another incident at the school, but he declined to comment about the details.

“We’re not willing to give any details at this point of the investigation,” Pargas said.

Lt. Francine Bradley, of the Navajo Police Department, applauded school administration for taking the appropriate preventative measure.

“The school did the right thing,” Bradley said. “ ... The pupils are safe.”

Wingate High School is a BIA school with about 300 to 400 ninth- through 12th-grade pupils.

Officers from the state police, sheriff’s department and Navajo police responded to the situation.