SOUTHINGTON — A student mistaking a cell phone for a gun prompted the high school to go into a secure mode Thursday morning, police said. 

Police responded to Southington High School just after 10 a.m. for a report of a suspicious person, Lt. Keith Egan said in a statement. The person was determined to be a 17-year-old student at the school. Another student reported seeing the student in a hallway between periods holding an item and making a gesture mimicking “racking a round,” Egan said.

The student thought the item was a handgun and reported it immediately to school administration. 

The high school was placed in secure mode and there was an immediate response from police. School officials used their surveillance system and identified the student involved. The item was determined to be a cell phone, Egan said. 

The 17-year-old was issued a juvenile summons for breach of peace. The school will considering further discipline, Egan said. 

Reporter Lauren Sellew can be reached at lsellew@record-journal.com.