There was confusion near Vandenberg Middle School early Tuesday morning following reports of gunshots, prompting several nearby schools to take precautionary measures. The events occurred while Vandenberg Space Force Base was conducting a well-documented active shooter exercise; authorities now believe he may have contributed to the confusion.

According to reports from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, concerns were raised around 10 a.m. when sounds resembling gunshots were heard near the school. Acting quickly, Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the scene and immediately began investigating the school building.

During the investigation, deputies thoroughly checked Vandenberg Middle School and confirmed there was no actual threat to students, staff or the environment. It was also stated that there were no injuries during the incident.

Simultaneously, lawmakers also took note of a recent military training exercise at Vandenberg Space Force Base announced Monday.

Starting Tuesday, the base is participating in a semiannual active shooter exercise as part of Space Launch Delta 30’s routine training to improve emergency management crisis responses. This exercise included base-wide announcements, a flurry of emergency vehicles, temporary street closures, potential lockdown procedures, and various Force Protection Conditions Level changes.

Presumably the closeness and overlap in timing caused the footage to be mistaken for a real-world emergency. As a precaution and to support concerned parents, the Sheriff’s Office has established a family assistance center at the intersection of Timber Lane and Katsura Avenue for parents and guardians of Vandenberg Middle School students.

Vandenberg Space Force then took over the situation from the deputies and focused on the remaining pursuit. The base had previously issued notice of possible intermittent traffic delays at all gates and limited access to the Base Exchange, marking a main entry point to manage crowds.

The Sheriff’s Office and Vandenberg Space Force Base urge the public to stay informed and heed any announcements regarding such exercises to avoid possible misunderstandings in the future.