Priceville High School hosts active shooter drill

PRICEVILLE, AL (WAFF) - Dozens of administrators from Morgan County Schools participated in an active shooter attack at Priceville High School Thursday morning.

Shots echoed in the hallways as law enforcement agents fired wax projectiles from "simunition" guns – all for the purpose of simulating a shooting scenario.

School administrators were asked to go on "lockdown" inside classrooms while the active shooter drill proceeded.

Morgan County Schools Superintendent Bill Hopkins said some schools have held their own shooting drills in the past but Thursday's drill intended to encompass the entire district.

"Obviously with a lot of the shootings and things we've had, it's on a lot of parents' minds," Hopkins said.

The drill fell on the same day when Alabama's new gun law went into effect but Hopkins said that was a coincidence.

He said the drill was a long-planned event that was scheduled in time for school administrators to be prepared before the first day of school on August 19.

"I've had a lot of people come to me and say they don't really care what the education provides if you can't keep your children safe," Hopkins said.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved in the drill, including the Alabama Alcohol and Beverage Control Board, the Morgan County Sheriff's Department and the Priceville Police Department.

"This really gives them, the school administrators and the faculty, the tools they need to deal with the situation prior to a law enforcement response," said Alabama ABC Sergeant Wayne Mackey.

About 30 school administrators attended the drill, which began with a Power Point presentation and finished with the shooting and lockdown simulation.