"Everyone was freaking out because you never know," says Howell senior Travis Denson.

Soon after the schoolday started Friday, students on the Howell High School campus were told to stay in their classrooms.

"This lady said there was a lockdown. I had to go to a room and get searched to see if we brought anything," says junior Kayla Golembiewski.

"I heard it was a bomb threat. I was freaking out and texting my mom," says junior Katlynn Taulbee.

It wasn't a bomb threat, but it was a rumor that some students were bringing guns to school. The report was third-hand-- and no one knew if it was for sure, but it was enough to make the police and school district worried.

"When it was communicated to the school resource officer, as a precautionary measure, schools were placed in lockdown so we could control the environment," explains Howell Police Chief George Basar.

Basar says the rumor ended up being an inaccurate portrayal of a conversation about kids and their hunting gear, but he says there's no room for second-guessing.

"Given this day in age, I'd much rather err to the side of caution than not. You can say it's overreacting, or you can say it's a prudent safeguard. I'd rather be safe than sorry," he says.

After a couple hours in lockdown, the students were able to resume normal activities around 11:00 a.m. And while the lockdown may have been frustrating to students, they understand why it happened.

"They just wanted to take all precautions," Denson says.