The Associated Press

WESTERVILLE, Ohio - A school district lied about the reason two schools were closed - to protect students from a possible drive-by shooting.

It was announced that Westerville South High School and Blendon Middle School would be closed Friday because of a power outage.

"I know there will be people who are not going to be happy with that," school board President Nancy Nestor-Baker said. "But it came down to what is the best way to keep the students safe.

"It became a lot easier to say when weighing it against bodies on the sidewalk."

About 3,200 students attend the two schools in this Columbus suburb. No problems were reported there Friday, and classes will resume Monday, with an extra police officer on duty.

Police had learned that a gang of Columbus teens had threatened to shoot a Westerville student, Nestor-Baker said.

Officials decided to lie to prevent panic and keep people from going to the school out of curiosity.

"Our thinking was had we given the real reason we would have drawn more people to the situation," deputy police Chief Joe Morbitzer said. "This was the best way to protect as many people as possible."

Police would not name the gang or student.