BAY MINETTE — Reports of gunfire near the campus of Baldwin County High School Friday morning were greatly exaggerated.

Instead of someone firing a shotgun into the air, it was determined the sound was just an old truck backfiring.

“There were no gunshots fired from a vehicle in front of Baldwin County High School this morning,” said Baldwin County Public Schools communications director Terry Wilhite. “The individual making the report later recanted his story.

“In a full investigation by Bay Minette Police, it was determined there was backfire from a vehicle in front of the school but never was any gun involved.”

Just before 11 a.m. on March 15, two parents saw a black Nissan pickup pull off the highway in front of BCHS. The witness reported that the passenger fired what appeared to be a shotgun into the air.

Wilhite said the school used the district’s rapid notification system to immediately alerted the parents of the high school students. Bay Minette Police responded promptly to the scene an took control of the investigation.

During that investigation, the witness who made the initial report of a shotgun being used, recanted their story.

“Through our investigation, it was determined there was no gun involved. None of the Baldwin County High School students/faculty members' safety was compromised,” Bay Minette Police Chief Clarence Crook said in a press release.

Crook said the investigation revealed a pickup truck stopped on Highway 59, adjacent to BCHS.

“During this time, the vehicle backfired twice, possibly due to mechanical problems,” said Crook. “The vehicle then slowly continued southbound on Highway 59.”

While glad that the school was never in danger, Wilhite was upset that a false report could have created a stressful situation for parents, students and staff.

“Making a mistake regarding what one heard or saw is one thing but recanting a story given to police and administrators is unacceptable and one Baldwin County Public Schools takes very seriously,” said Wilhite.