SALT LAKE CITY -- The sound of gunshots near Edison Elementary school triggered a series of actions that may have proved a life saver.
"She acted quickly, she acted decisively. She got the students in the building,” said Principal Laurie Lacy of one of the school’s P.E. teachers.
Lacy said the teacher was outside with a group of third graders just after 11 a.m. on Tuesday when she heard what could be gunshots. Lacy made the call to put the school in lockdown.
"It's easy to unlock a door, it would be very difficult to lock a door after the fact," Lacy said.
Minutes later, the precaution proved necessary.
Police say Ricky Quintana, armed with a gun and fleeing from officers, tried to get into the school. He was cornered by the locked doors and taken into custody.
"We would not have had time to react if we hadn't done that, so the scary thing is to think about, wow, that could have been really close,” Lacy said. “The wonderful thing is to think everyone did exactly what they were supposed to do.”
Parents were called after the lockdown was lifted. Many heard a brief message recounting the series of events.
"I was scared to death,” said Meleane Hansen, a parent with several kids at Edison Elementary.
Worried her daughter’s room was close to the front door, she rushed down to the school, finding her kids safe.
"I'm so happy for this school, they doing a great job. As soon as they hear about something going on out there, they shut down the school,” Hansen said.
Staff met Tuesday afternoon to go over what happened. One lesson is apparent.
"It is ultimately my call and I think if today taught us anything, if we didn't already know this, follow your gut reaction," Lacy said.
