The Sentinel-Record reported that a teacher at Gardner Magnet School in Hot Springs, Arkansas, reported seeing three armed men near the building.

>> Read more trending stories

The teacher activated the school's intruder alarm, sending the school into lockdown and leading a SWAT team to surround the school, according to KARK.

The teacher used her Rave Panic Button smartphone app to send the alert.

The "intruders" were actually a pest control team with pellet guns, according to police.

They were in the area responding to a squirrel problem affecting a nearby apartment complex.

Capt. Chris Chapmond, of the Hot Springs Police Department said, "The Panic Button worked as it should and the kids and faculty were secure inside."

Police said the exterminators ended up near the school when they fired a pellet at the squirrel and missed, sending the squirrel running toward the school -- and that's when the teacher mistook the exterminators for armed gunmen.

About the Author

Keep Reading

An aerial image shows part of John A. White Park taken on Wednesday, July 4, 2025, where the City of Atlanta plans to build new trails as part of the citywide Trails ATL plan. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

UPS driver Dan Partyka delivers an overnight package. As more people buy more goods online, the rapid and unrelenting expansion of e-commerce is causing real challenges for the Sandy-Springs based company. (Bob Andres/AJC 2022)

Credit: TNS