A Rockwood (TN) Police Officer accidentally fired a live round of ammunition during a “blank-fire” drill at Rockwood Middle School Thursday morning.
“We had an accidental discharge that should not have happened,” Rockwood Police Chief Danny Wright told 10News. “Nobody was ever in danger.”
Rockwood PD and Roane County Schools were working together on the drill this week to demonstrate to school staff and teachers what an active shooter situation sounds like.
During the drill, teachers, staff and school personnel are locked in a classroom with the police chief while an officer fires blank rounds in the hallway.
However, the officer’s weapon contained a live round.
“It was a blank-fire drill, is what is was. There was not to be any discharge of live ammunition,” explained Roane County Schools Superintendent Leah Watkins.
No one was injured and no students were in the building at the time because Thursday was an in-service day for teachers. Officials also locked the doors to the school so no one mistakenly wandered in.
Officials canceled a second drill planned for Ridge View Elementary School later in the morning.