KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On Thursday, a parent's worst nightmare appeared to be unfolding in Knox County. Ashley Ellis was at work when she got news there could be an active shooter inside her child's middle school. The school district had received threats about it, and several schools went into lockdown while the Knox County Sheriff's Office responded.
Halls Elementary, Middle and High schools all went into lockdown. So did Gibbs Elementary, Middle and High schools.
And as children hid under their desks, afraid someone with a gun would enact tragedy, relief swept through Knox County. It turned out to be hoax calls, and three Gibbs Middle School students were charged for making it.
"I got the message from the school that they were in a hard lockdown," said Ellis. "Getting texts from your children saying, 'I'm hiding under a table.' That was too much for me."
The calls came in at 11:31 a.m. and 11:32 a.m., according to KCSO. Communication to KCS parents was sent out 26 minutes later, at 11:58 a.m.
All the while, Ellis' children were texting her and describing the scene. Her daughter said everyone was crying, fearful and terrified. She also told Ellis that someone tried to open their classroom door.
"Her teacher had barricaded the door with a table," said Ellis.
Meanwhile, Ellis' eighth-grade son was texting her too. He told her he loved her after the school went into lockdown.
"My son was in the restroom when the announcement came on, and he went running," she said.
Around 30 minutes later, KCS sent another message to parents. It was a hoax, there was no active shooter. And with that message came relief.
"They did a great job," said Jon Rysewyk, the superintendent of Knox County Schools. "Everybody was informed and knew exactly what to do, where to go."
Sheriff Tom Spangler is also urging parents to talk with their children about the severity of threatening violence in schools, reminding them that even just making threats of violence comes with tremendous consequences.
"I just hope that this is an eye-opener for our community, for parents to just talk to their kids more," he said.