video Drill in Orangeville Gets Out of Hand

The sound of gunshots split the air last Friday at a Rockford-area high school sending students seeking shelter anywhere they could, including off-campus, to save their lives.

What the students didn't know, was the shots they heard came from a capgun discharged by a disguised sheriff's deputy in an elaborate school safety drill.

Orangeville Jr-Sr High School student Skylar Walters told NBC 13 WREX he was in gym class when he heard the shots and a man calling a fellow students name.

"Kids were just running everywhere and crying and hiding, ran off school grounds," Walters told WREX. "I started praying to God and saying my last words."

Walter's mother, Nicole Fishburn, told WREX she received an automated text message from the school the day of the drill but was instructed not to tell her son about the exercise and not to answer her phone should he attempt to call her.

School officials say the drill was carried out in compliance with state mandates and never got out of control but parents and students say it went too far.

"These kids didn't learn anything except for to basically run for your lives," Fishburn told WREX. "I think this could be a complete lawsuit."

Orangeville Superintendent Randy Otto says an investigation is underway following the mock safety drill.

"There were some situations, all I can say is right now there are some situations that occurred during the drill that are under investigation by the board," Otto said.

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