UPDATE: 

A threat that was later determined to be unfounded caused a lockdown at four schools in Sonoma for about three hours Thursday afternoon.

At about noon, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office announced that Sonoma Valley and Creekside high schools in Sonoma were on lockdown due to an unspecified threat to the schools, which share a campus.

"There was an email threat that was received, and the threat was specific to location being Sonoma Valley High on a specific date, which was [Thursday]," said Rob Dillion, public information officer for the Sonoma County's Sheriff's Office. "The threat mentioned a firearm and possible shooting. There was no more information provided, other than that. We got the threat...deputies came and locked everything down. We did thorough search and the investigation can use.

The nearby Adele Harrison Middle School and Prestwood Elementary School were also locked down because of their proximity to the high school campus but weren't considered to be under any threat, sheriff's officials said.

At about 3 p.m., the lockdowns were canceled and people were allowed back into the neighborhood after deputies determined the threat was unfounded.

"We don't take these kinds of threats lightly," Dillion said. "Even though at this point we've been able to deem the school safe, the investigation will continue for quite some time."

INITIAL STORY PUBLISHED 11/09/23 1 PM

Sonoma Valley and Creekside high schools in Sonoma are on lockdown Thursday afternoon due to an unspecified threat to the schools, which share a campus.

That's according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

Sheriff's officials issued the alert at about noon Thursday for the dual campus on Broadway in Sonoma. They say people should avoid the area.

Adele Harrison Middle School and Prestwood Elementary School were also locked down because of their proximity to the high school campus but aren't considered to be under any threat, sheriff's officials said.

No additional information was released.