KINGSTON — Gordon Elementary was on lockdown for less than an hour the morning of March 15 after staff reported hearing sounds similar to gunshots.

Two Kitsap County Sheriff deputies determined the sounds came from an old car backfiring, according to an email from interim principal Rachel Osborn. The car backfiring sounded like three gunshots, according to the email.

The school was on lockdown when the school bell rang at 9:15 a.m. The lockdown ended at 9:25 a.m.

“Staff and students were calm and did a great job,” Osborn wrote in her email.

The last time Gordon was briefly locked down was March 1, after a parent reported to the office staff he or she saw a man sitting in a car at the end of the school’s driveway, possibly with a gun in the car.

Superintendent Patty Page said Kitsap County Sheriff’s deputies arrived quickly and found no gun in the car. The man allowed his car to be searched, and officers found a saxophone and other musical instruments. His band members showed up at the scene soon after the officers.

Page said the school was on lockdown for about 10-15 minutes.