Lockdowns lifted at Jeff State, Spain Park

Published 1:44 pm Friday, February 11, 2011

By BRAD GASKINS / Staff Writer

Jefferson State Community College’s Shelby/Hoover Campus on Valleydale Road has reopened after being on lockdown for about an hour and 45 minutes earlier today.

Shortly before noon, campus officials were notified that someone had contacted local media outlets and threatened to harm a student at the campus, according to David Bobo, a Jeff State spokesperson.

Nearby Spain Park High School was also on lockdown because of the threat, said Jason Gaston, a Hoover City School spokesperson.

Both lockdowns have been lifted.

Jefferson State became aware of the threat at about 11:50 a.m., Bobo said.

“We went into action,” Bobo said.

The threat was directed at a specific student at Jeff State, Bobo said. That student was notified and made aware of the threat.

The Hoover Police Department and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office are assisting campus police, Bobo said.

“They are trying to figure out if this threat is real,” Bobo said. “Right now, nothing has happened, and we’re operating normally.”