Albany Schools Lockdown: Superintendent Said "No Threats" Were Made By Missing Student, District Took "Every Precaution"

Police are looking for a missing 16-year-old Albany schools student who lives in El Sobrante and hasn't been seen since about 1:15 this morning. He appears to have taken a gun and ammunition from his home, according to information released by authorities.

"We are most concerned about the juvenile's safety," said community engagement specialist Karina Tindol of the . "He's made no threats to any schools or any people."

Albany schools were on alert, and then locked down .

Superintendent Marla Stephenson said, in a at 2:30 p.m., that the lockdown was prompted by "an unsubstantiated report that the student was sighted" in Albany. 

"The district implemented emergency lockdown procedures at 11:05 a.m.," she wrote. "The sighting was not corroborated therefore lockdown procedures were lifted." 

"No threat has been made to anyone on a school site, or staff," she said this afternoon.

Normal school operations resumed as of about 1 p.m. Police said they have increased patrols around school campuses this afternoon.

Stephenson said the student, identified by authorities as John Scott, attended this year. She said he was not expelled from Albany schools, but is no longer living in Albany.

One high school student said he knew John "back in middle school."

"He was really nice. He used to sell candy. I haven't seen him in years," said Paulie Kennedy, 16, who is a junior at Albany High. "I hope he can get some mental help or something. That would be better than locking him up. He's just a kid." 

Kennedy said today's lockdown surprised him. 

"Albany is such a small town. It's scary to think that kids here have access to weapons," he said.

"It tells you something about society," continued Joseph Zavala, 17, who was standing nearby. "Anything can happen at anytime."

Parents and students stayed in touch during the lockdown via e-mail and electronic messaging.

"I can say that the kids are scared but doing well," wrote parent Gretchen Davidson, just before noon Wednesday via e-mail. "My daughter just called from AHS saying they are on code red status. lights off and under desks due to a threat of some sort."

"We're in the corner of a dark classroom hungry because it's lunch...it's been 57 minutes so far," wrote high schooler Nir Maoz via an electronic messaging service, about 12:30 p.m.

"People are bored and hungry," he wrote, as the lockdown stretched into the lunch hour.

Another parent said she received a text from her daughter at Marin, at 10:20 a.m., that all the schools were on lockdown.

Superintendent Stephenson said there has been "no threat to students or staff, and we are taking every precaution to protect your children." Before the lockdown, "we were on alert," she said.

"We've never had a district-wide lockdown in the 12 years I've been here," Stephenson added.

John Scott is 5 feet 5 inches tall and 130 pounds, and was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and black tennis shoes, according to a runaway "at risk" juvenile report sent out by this morning.

John lives in El Sobrante and is a MacGregor student, according to authorities.

Wednesday morning about 1:15 a.m., John’s father reported him missing to Albany Police, after coming home from work to find his son missing, according to the police statement.

John may be upset about some recent problems, said police. Authorities believe the teen took the gun and ammunition when he left.

All efforts to find John have been unsuccessful, and police are asking for help from the public. 

Albany Police said they have been in close contact with school officials, along with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department about this case.

Any questions about school district operations should be directed to the Albany Unified School District at 510-558-3750. If you have seen John Scott, or have information on his whereabouts, please contact Albany Police at 510-525-7300.