Update 3:45 p.m.

Capt. Sean O'Donnell of Seattle Police North Precinct, and Stacy Howard from Seattle Public Schools made a statement outside the school as students were being released.

O’Donnell reported that around 11 a.m. Seattle police received a report that a student saw another student possessing a gun.

Seattle police responded to the scene within five minutes, and while at the school they received a report that the suspect was seen at a nearby restaurant. O’Donnell did not report which restaurant, but the police scanner indicated that is was the Taco Bell just a couple blocks south of the school on 15th Avenue N.W.

Seattle SWAT was called to both the restaurant and the school.

“We responded to both the restaurant and to the school and initiated protocols that are standard in situations like this for someone with a weapon near a school,” said O’Donnell.

Officers located “several” possible suspects at the restaurant, and they were taken into custody and brought back to the school. O’Donnell would not comment on just how many suspects they are questioning. None of the suspects were carrying a gun.

“At this time we have several students that we are still talking to, interviewing. … Things are still developing as we work through the situation. Clearly, there is a lot of activity by the Seattle Police Department working with the Seattle School District to bring a positive effect to this situation.”

Meanwhile, as the suspects were taken into custody, police set up a secure perimeter at the school, and students were immediately moved to the gymnasium. Once the students were secure, police looked for the firearm using canines from SPD and the King county Sheriff’s Office.

“Out of an abundance of caution we are going through these protocols in a very specific way so we can be as certain as we can be that…we locate any weapons that are there. “

Students were released slowly from the school around 230 p.m while officers conducted the search, but before they were SPD Chief Kathleen O’Toole and BHS Principal Keven Wynkoop spoke to them about the incident and ensured their safety.

“We’ve had our students in the gym for hours now. They’ve been great, and we know that parents were worried…and we were trying to connect with them over social media,” said Howard.

“At this time everything is under control. All the students are safe, and we have not located a weapon,” said O’Donnell.

O’Donnell also reported that the search will takes some time because canines need a break during large perimeter searches.

“For us, we want to thank Seattle Police Department for quickly responding and for our students. We teach them ‘You see, you tell,’ and they did, and everybody acted very quickly,” said Howard.

Howard also said that tomorrow’s school day will be on time and all practices and activities be as scheduled.

Original post:

Seattle Police Department's SWAT Team are currently investigating after a student was suspected to have a gun.

The suspect was described as being a white male, age 15 to 16. Police quickly located the student at the Taco Bell a couple blocks south of the school on 15th Avenue N.W. in Ballard.

Police locked down Ballard High School and have been instructed to send students away who are coming back to the school.

The firearm has not been located at this time.

Look to the Ballard News-Trbune as this story evolves.