Several Columbia-area schools were placed on brief lockdowns Tuesday after a report of gunfire in the Village of Harper’s Choice. Howard County Police said they have found shell casings but no other evidence at the scene.

At 12:25 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to Harpers Farm Road and Cedar Lane in Columbia to investigate a report that gunfire was heard in the area, according to a police department post on X. Police said there was no active shooter or any reported injuries.

Several schools in the area — Longfellow Elementary, Swansfield Elementary, Bryant Woods Elementary, Harper’s Choice Middle, Wilde Lake Middle, Wilde Lake High and the Homewood Center — were briefly placed on modified lockdown or lockdown under the guidance of police.

At 2:51 p.m., Tuesday, the police department posted an update that shell casings had been found around Harpers Farm Road and Beaverkill Road. During school dismissal time there was an increased police presence in the area, police said, though they didn’t believe there was any school involvement.

Police said no property was struck and no injuries were reported, but the incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information can call 911.

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