Pike Road High School went on lockdown Monday morning after administrators were notified of a "potential threat" on the school's Georgia Washington campus.

By 3:30 p.m., the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office announced that officers had identified and arrested a suspect. However, since the person in custody is a juvenile, law enforcement said there will be no name or further details about the arrest provided to the public.

“The Sheriff’s Office takes the security of our schools seriously, and we will relentlessly pursue individuals who threaten the safety of our students,” Assistant Chief Deputy Wesley Richerson said in a statement.

The situation began around 7:40 a.m., when a teacher reported that a student had received a threatening text message that expressed intent to cause harm to students on campus. At that point, students had already begun entering the building, and administrators told them to report to their first period classes for lockdown, according to Superintendent Keith Lankford.

ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement

"We would be remiss if we did not thank all of our bus drivers, CNP, staff, teachers, students, parents, and administrators for their flexibility and willingness to ensure the safety of our students," Lankford said in a statement. "The safety and security of our students will always be our primary concern. Our staff was prepared for this scenario and executed the safety plan confidently and efficiently."

Pike Road High School is in the old Georgia Washington Middle School building in Pike Road.

About two hours after lockdown began, the school district and local law enforcement determined that the threat was "not immediate," though investigators continued to "determine its credibility." At the same time, school officials announced a plan for early dismissal of students to begin at 10:20 a.m., and Pike Road Schools released a statement on social media.

"We continue to work with our law enforcement partners," the statement said. "All students are safe, and no one is in immediate danger. We will continue to update you."

By 11:45 a.m., the situation remained ongoing as law enforcement worked with Pike Road teachers and administrators to release students in a safe and orderly fashion.

An email sent to PRHS parents and guardians directed them to pick up their students at the front of the school building. Students were being released individually to vehicles as they arrived.

"All bus riders and any other students on campus will remain in a secure location until they are picked up," an email from district spokesman Ryan Kendall said. "We know this early dismissal is inconvenient, and we appreciate your support."

Hadley Hitson covers children's health, education and welfare for the Montgomery Advertiser. She can be reached at hhitson@gannett.com. To support her work, subscribe to the Advertiser.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Pike Road High School students dismissed early following lockdown