Lampasas Police Department officials report that a 16-year-old male was referred to the Lampasas County Juvenile Probation Department and remains in the Bell County Juvenile Detention Center after he displayed two guns and said he was going to shoot students and teachers at Lampasas High School on Wednesday.

Assistant Chief of Police Sammy Bailey said LPD Cpl. Jase Herring and Officers Fidel Morua and James Ward quickly responded to the youth's residence, and the teen was found to have guns in his possession.

Officers detained the juvenile shortly before midnight last Tuesday at his residence in town, Chief of Police Tim Angermann said. The youth offered no resistance and was cooperative, Angermann said.

Authorities took possession of three weapons and ammunition, the police chief said.

"No guns have been taken on school property, period," the veteran law-enforcement official said. Added Angermann: "Nothing has happened on school property."

Commented Angermann: "I'm thankful we got a tip we were able to work on." He added that no other students were involved in the matter.

Superintendent Dr. Brant Myers emphasized that no incident occurred on school grounds. "There were all kinds of rumors, and a lot of them were false," he said.

"I was very proud of the way the Police Department handled the situation. I can't thank them enough for how they handled it. It was something that might have happened that didn't happen, and I'm obviously very happy it didn't happen."

High school staff were informed that a terroristic threat had been made, and increased security measures were implemented, Myers said.

Teachers were reminded to lock classroom doors, and there was a heightened, visible presence of administrators and faculty walking the campus, the superintendent said.

Police officers were dispatched to the high school, as well, Myers noted.

During principals and directors meetings and meetings of other staff, safety always is the No. 1 topic, Myers said. Safety discussions run the gamut, too, he said, from bus safety to a student who trips to classroom management.

And students and staff do a num- ber of fire, tornado and lockdown drills, he noted.

In the situation last week, no lockdown occurred. A lockdown would have been ordered if there had been "a presence on campus that was a threat," Myers said.

During an interview yesterday morning, the Lampasas superintendent said: "We're back to normal." Added Angermann: "The school is running very smoothly."

Assistant County Attorney John Greenwood said he is awaiting a full offense report to determine what the appropriate charges should be in the case.

Matters such as the one last week are felonies, he said, however.

In a juvenile detention facility such as the one near Killeen where the youth is being held, juveniles are not entitled to post bond, Greenwood said.

However, juvenile detention hearings may be held every 15 business days, to determine if a youth should be detained or released, he said. "The standard is: What is in the best interest of the juvenile and the community?" Greenwood said.

He expressed doubt that the matter will go to trial, but it could go to a disposition hearing, he said.

At that time, a court could determine if the subject should be granted probation or be placed in a Texas Youth Commission facility, Greenwood said.

As a condition of probation, the court can order that a youth first be placed in a secure juvenile facility, Greenwood said.

Treatment programs usually range from 30 days up to six months, and, in extreme situations, up until a person turns 18, the assistant county attorney said.

In the meantime, an investigation is continuing.

The Police Department and Lampasas Independent School District are working together regarding this matter, said Ms. Bailey.

For more than 10 years, the LISD has paid the city of Lampasas for the salary of a police officer assigned to the school district. The Police Department pays for the officer's vehicle and training. The officer works all of the local campuses and spends considerable time at the high school, Angermann noted.

"We have a very good working relationship with the superintendent, the school board and Lampasas school officials," he said.

The Police Department is on hand for school functions such as in-town and out-of-town football games, and other athletic contests, Angermann noted.

Angermann offered what he said is common-sense advice to parents to help head off situations such as the one that arose last week.

"Be knowledgeable of whom your kids are with, what they are doing and, most of all, be actively together as a family," he said. "If you're active as a family, you'll normally know what is going on."