School lockdown ends without incident

A lockdown at Tucumcari Public Schools ended at 2:45 p.m. today following local law enforcement's search for a man carrying a firearm.

"The students are safe," said Dave Johnson, assistant superintendent. "We will keep them inside the buildings until school is dismissed."

Johnson said there was no immediate danger to any of the children. School officials were told they could lift the lockdown after Tucumcari police officers searched and cleared all of the school's buildings attempting to locate the armed man.

Officers responded to several calls around 2:15 p.m. reporting a man carrying a weapon on the 900 block of South Fourth Street near Tucumcari Middle School, said Jason Braziel, chief of police.

Braziel said officers searched the elementary, middle and high school buildings and New Mexico State Police and the Tenth Judicial District Attorney's Office investigators assisted in searching the surrounding areas. He said they were unable to locate anyone matching the description of the man or anyone carrying a firearm.

Johnson said the lockdown was initiated as a precaution following school policies and procedures along with the advisement of the police department.