By Lasso Online Staff (October 6, 2003)

At precisely 2:42 p.m. today, George Mason Middle School and High School students went into their first real lockdown as police both on the ground and in a helicopter searched for a suspect in a car theft who may have entered the school building. 
 

Three minutes before final dismissal, Mason principal Bob Snee came over the loudspeaker to announce to teachers and students that they should go into a lockdown which means that all students must stay in their classrooms with locked doors and must remain until the "all clear" is given. Snee also told members of his SMT (Situation Management Team) to report and they in turn, along with administrators and police conducted a sweep of the entire building, checking all hallways, stairwells and restrooms to be sure that the building was safe.  Within minutes of the lockdown’s beginning, high school students began calling parents at home and at work and even friends in other classrooms to see if anyone knew why the lockdown had been ordered. One senior’s mother told her about news reports of a car theft on the area.

During the lockdown, these students gathered around  to see the movement outside of the building, including  the helicopter, police cars and police officers.  Other  students, as pictured in the lower right corner, called  parents or friends to see what was happening.      (Photo by: Matt Meyer)

The students were able to see from their windows a Fox Channel News helicopter circling the building, a Fairfax County helicopter, police cars, and even the buses departing. As Dr. Bilby reported, the buses left the George Mason parking lot to transport the elementary students. 

Students ended up being kept after school until 3:18, slightly over a half hour past regular release time, when local area police declared the area safe.