3 Bluffton schools placed on brief lockdown after ‘suspicious person’ reported in area
After a suspicious person was reported in the area Thursday morning, officials initiated a brief lockdown at three local public schools: Bluffton High School, Bluffton Elementary School and H.E. McCracken Middle School.
The lockdowns began around 10:20 a.m. Thursday and lasted about 10 minutes, according to Eydie Moody, a spokesperson for the Bluffton Police Department. Officers “cleared the concern” without making an arrest, she said.
All three schools resumed normal operations following the incident. The schools share a campus on H.E. McCracken Circle, located off Buckwalter Parkway.
The circumstances of the incident, including the identity and exact location of the suspicious person, were unknown as of Thursday afternoon.
“I am proud of our school’s response which is due in part to our regular drills throughout the year and ongoing support from Bluffton Police Department,” Bluffton High School Principal Matthew Hall wrote in a note to parents and guardians Thursday morning.
Public schools in Beaufort County are required to conduct at least three lockdown drills per year.
This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 1:55 PM.
