Shots fired incident Tuesday near Cedar Rapids’ Johnson STEAM Academy delays dismissal

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids Police Department is investigating a shots fired incident that happened near Johnson STEAM Academy Tuesday afternoon, causing the school to delay student dismissal.

The shots fired happened near the intersection of Fourth Avenue and 16th Street SE. Police were called to the scene at 1:50 p.m., according to a Facebook post from the police department.

Johnson STEAM Academy was placed in a “secure mode,” which is less severe than a full lock down, but requires students to be kept in the building and all the outside doors to be locked.

Dismissal Tuesday was supposed to take place at 2:20 p.m., but was delayed because the secure status lasted until 2:29 p.m., when police told school staff they could release students, according to the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

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“An investigation into the incident is underway and more information will be made available when possible,” the post from the police department reads.

Tuesday was the first day of school in the Cedar Rapids Community School District.

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