Shots fired on last day of term sent primary school into lockdown

A primary school was sent into lockdown after gunshots rang out nearby on the final day of term, it has emerged.

Pupils, their parents and staff were forced to remain on the premises at Glebefields Primary School as shots echoed during school pick up time on Friday, July 18. Glebefields is located in the industrial town of Tipton, West Midlands.

Officers were called to the incident in Sandgate Road at approximately 3.30pm, as parents had gathered in the vicinity to collect their children. The incident happened just a day after a 10-year-old schoolboy died in a tragic bus accident on an end-of-term trip to the zoo.

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Thankfully, nobody was harmed but owing to the close proximity to the young children, West Midlands Police instructed those at the school to remain on the premises whilst they conducted their investigations.

Nobody had been detained as of Monday, July 21 and West Midlands Police is requesting information to help them locate the perpetrator, reports Birmingham Live.

The complete appeal stated: "We are investigating after reports of shots being fired in Tipton.

"We were called to a report of a firearms discharge at around 3.30pm on Friday afternoon in Sandgate Road. Thankfully no one was injured.

"Because the location of the report was close to a nearby school: parents, staff and students were kept on school grounds while our officers carried out their enquiries."

Following the incident, officers have been patrolling the local vicinity investigating and collecting evidence, the force confirmed.

They requested assistance, stating: "We're keen to hear from anyone who was in the area and might have seen what happened, as well as anyone who has doorbell or dashcam footage.

"Anyone with more information can contact us via 101 quoting log 3576 of 18 July."