Las Cruces Public Schools experience lockdowns, shelter-in-place due to possible threat, lightning

A number of schools in Las Cruces experienced a lockdown or shelter-in-place on Thursday afternoon due to a possible threat as well as lightning in the area.

Hermosa Heights Elementary was on lockdown for about a half-hour while police investigated reports of what the school district called “a potential threat near the area.” That lockdown has since been lifted and officials said all students and staff were safe.

There were no immediate details on what the potential threat was.

Meantime, Columbia Elementary and University Hills were under a shelter-in-place for after school programs as of 3:30 p.m. due to lightning in the area.

At points during the afternoon, Columbia Elementary, University Hills, Desert Hills, Sunrise Elementary, Cesar Chavez, Sunrise Elementary, Onate, Mesa Middle School, White Sands and others were all under a shelter-in-place due to lightning. Those have all since been lifted.