Howard County Police searched River Hill High School after a caller reported that a student with a gun and a bomb was threatening the school, but they found no evidence of danger, authorities said.

The high school in western Howard County was on lockdown after the threat was phoned in just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to police and school sources.

“There is no evidence of actual danger at this time,” police said. By 3:30 p.m. students were beginning to leave the school.

The incident raised alarm after false reports of a shooter inside the school circulated on social media, including a video that showed Howard County police officers sprinting into the school with their weapons drawn.

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School spokesman Brian Bassett reported an hour after police got to the school that no one had been shot.

Howard County police tweeted Tuesday evening that the high school had been cleared. “Detectives believe the phone threat called in this afternoon about a possible gun and bomb at the school was a hoax and are investigating the source,” the tweet said

liz.bowie@thebaltimorebanner.com