Lockdown Lifted After Reports Of Gunmen At West Valley College

Written by Amy Blitchok
Published on March 13, 2023 · Updated on March 23, 2023

Lockdown Lifted After Reports Of Gunmen At West Valley College

Written by Amy Blitchok
Published on March 13, 2023 · Updated on March 23, 2023

The lockdown at West Valley College in Saratoga, about an hour outside San Francisco, California has ended after first being implemented around 11am on March 13, 2023 when an armed intruder was spotted on campus. 

The first campus warning was sent just after 11 in the morning and instituted a full campus lockdown. At 11:32 the college tweeted about a “white male seen carrying a long rifle” in a red Cadillac in Lot 1.

The school does have a protocol in place for gunman situations according to the college’s website:

“Options RUN if you can safely run OFF CAMPUS - No driving cars. Leave belongings behind. HIDE if you do not know where the threat is or how many suspects are involved, FIGHT if an intruder comes into your hiding place. You will be notified as soon as possible when it is safe.”

School officials have reported that two individuals who were in possession of a replica firearm have since been detained. While classes were canceled for the remainder of the day, the Santa Clara County Sherifif’s office tweeted at 1:31 pm that there was no longer an active threat and the campus was safe.