NEW BLOOMFIELD, Mo. - Shots echoed through the hallways of New Bloomfield High School on Tuesday during a simulated attack on the school by two heavily armed intruders.
It marked the second year of such training at the school in the wake of shooting tragedies in schools around the nation.
Tuesday's exercise was conducted jointly by the New Bloomfield Police Department and the Callaway County Sheriff's Office.
Playing the role of the two armed intruders who fired blank shots during the simulation were New Bloomfield Police Chief Chris Hammann and Sgt. Shannon Jeffries of the Callaway County Sheriff's Office.
New Bloomfield Superintendent David Tramel said the exercise was helpful to teachers who have learned how to react if they spot an intruder with a weapon who poses a threat to teachers and students.
The training exercise was conducted with teachers before the start of the school year this week. No students were involved in Tuesday's exercise.
The elementary school at New Bloomfield had an intruder exercise Tuesday morning. Another exercise was held at the high school Tuesday afternoon.
"Teachers are taught to run if they see an intruder with a weapon in the school," Tramel said. "Next they will attempt to hide and protect themselves and students from the intruder. If the intruder finds their hiding place, teachers have learned how to fight as a last resort."
Teachers also have learned a variety of protective techniques to use during intruder emergencies. For example, they shove heavy, portable bookcases to block entry into classrooms where children are gathered.
Another technique is to tie a cord to the handle of the classroom door to hold from a safe distance to prevent the door handle from turning.
Teachers were told a simulated armed intruder attack would occur sometime Tuesday but they were not told the time of the event.
When the "attack" at the high school started Tuesday afternoon, Hammann and Jeffries - both clad in black and heavily armed - burst into the school firing blanks from revolvers and rifles.
The intruders also began to scream and bang on locker doors. Scurrying for cover, the teachers swung immediately into action and began to take defensive measures by setting up barricades in an attempt to block entry into classrooms.
School administrators wore reflective highway safety vests during the drill to stand by as observers.
"The shooters during the drill were instructed to disregard us," Tramel said. The administrators were evaluating the reaction of teachers and others during the event.
As the exercise unfolded, Dale Maupin, a custodian at the school, told Tramel he was surprised by the intruders while he was working in the school's gymnasium.
"Both of the intruders," Maupin said, "said they shot me."