Pepper spray and a BB gun found inside a student’s backpack caused minor disruptions at two District 49 schools Thursday morning, district officials said.

Vista Ridge High School was evacuated for about a half hour Thursday morning after a student used pepper spray inside the building, according to District 49 officials. D49 reported on its website that the school had been evacuated due to an “airborne irritant” about 10:45 a.m.

Colorado Springs fire crews searched the building and identified that the irritant was pepper spray. Students and staff returned to regularly scheduled activities by about 11:15 a.m., D49 spokesman Matt Meister said. There were no reports of any students or staff who needed medical attention, said Colorado Springs Fire Department spokesman Capt. Steve Oswald.

About 11 a.m. at Skyview Middle School, BB gun found inside a student’s backpack prompted a 4-minute lockdown, Meister said. The backpack was found inside a locker after a teacher reported it, he said. Colorado Springs police, security and administrators responded quickly to get the situation resolved.

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Contact Andrea Sinclair: 636-0235

Twitter @GazetteAndrea

Vista Ridge High School.