North Carolina school shooting: Police confirm active shooter alert caused by malfunctioning water cooler

Topsail High School in Pender County, North Carolina (Picture: Google StreetView)

Police in North Carolina have responded to reports of an active shooter at a high school.

At 8am on Friday, officers confirmed that there was no shooter and that a malfunctioning water cooler on the school's roof was the cause of reports.

Pender County's Emergency Management Director Tom Collins said that the series of malfunctions "sounded like an AR-15 going off."

Tensions are currently running high after 12 people were killed when a gunman opened fire inside a country and western themed night at a bar in Thousand Oaks.

Topsail High School in Pender County, North Carolina (Google StreetView)

Pender Schools told WECT News: "At this time, all campuses on the eastern side of the county are on lockdown. Buses are being staged at Lowe's Foods across from Topsail Elementary. All staff at Topsail Elementary, Topsail Middle and Topsail High please report to Lowe's Foods."

Several people on the roof of Topsail High School in North Carolina near Wilmington after a report of an active shooter. According to @wectnews, it may be a SWAT team but there are no immediate reports of injuries. All the local schools are on lockdown. pic.twitter.com/bBrm2VWbIP

— Erik Ortiz (@erikjhortiz)

November 9, 2018

The Whilmington Star-News reported that the high school went into lockdown earlier this year after a student brought a semi-automatic rifle onto the campus.

Another student was arrested with three knives.