Fake rifle used by drill team triggers lockdown at Simi Valley schools

Two schools in Simi Valley were placed on lockdown for roughly four hours Wednesday after police received reports of a person possibly armed with a rifle on the campus of Royal High School.

The lockdown was lifted shortly after noon without incident, when authorities discovered that the suspected rifle was not a firearm at all, but was actually a ceremonial imitation used by a drill team member.

Simi Valley police received the initial report around 8:21 a.m. Both Royal High and nearby Saint Rose of Lima Catholic School were placed on lockdown as authorities searched the campus for a weapon.

At 12:19 p.m. Simi Valley police said in a statement the lockdown had been lifted, though officers were remaining on campus to assist with traffic related issues.

Los Angeles Police Department air units assisted in the search, police said.

During the search, police closed all traffic on Royal Avenue between Crocker and Pride streets.

Students were released to lunch immediately following the lockdown and school will continue as scheduled, according to a statement from the Simi Valley Unified School District.

melissa.etehad@latimes.com

Follow me on Twitter @melissaetehad

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UPDATES:

1:30 p.m.: This article was updated with details on the conclusion of the police search.

This article was originally published at 10:50 a.m.