ROYSE CITY, Texas, April 27, 2026 — A panic alarm activated at Ouida Baley Middle School prompted a lockdown and police response Monday afternoon, but officers found no evidence of gunfire or an active threat, according to the Royse City Police Department.
Police were dispatched at about 12:20 p.m. after a panic alarm was triggered. The school resource officer assigned to the campus alerted responding units that the school had initiated lockdown procedures. Several students who were in the cafeteria left the building and ran to the nearby Royse City Police Department, reporting they believed they heard gunshots as they exited.
Officers entered the school and conducted an immediate search but did not hear or observe any signs of an active shooter. Authorities confirmed there was no threat inside the building.
Investigators determined the alarm originated from the front office, where a student sitting behind the counter had pressed a panic button, activating the lockdown. After confirming the campus was secure, officers and school staff began lifting the lockdown.
Police said no evidence of gunfire was found during the investigation. Officers noted several chairs, trays, and trash cans overturned in the cafeteria, which may have caused the noises students reported hearing.
The Royse City Police Department said it will investigate whether the alarm activation was accidental or intentional. No additional information has been released.
