Los Angeles Valley College was placed on lockdown Wednesday night amid reports of an active shooter on the Valley Glen campus, but as the evening wore on, no gunman was found — and the sounds could have been a car backfiring.

The sound of gunshots just before 7 p.m. sent people running, but officers found no evidence of a shooting — and no victims, LAPD Officer Tony Im told City News Service.

Students, faculty and staff on the community college campus — where many night classes were in session — were told to lock doors and shelter in place while the police investigation continued, said the Im.

As of 8 p.m., no evidence of a shooting was found, according to a KTLA5 report, and the Los Angeles Fire Department — which was on scene to assist law enforcement — began pulling units from the scene as the 9 o’clock hour approached. The sheriff’s department called a “code 4,” meaning the scene was under control, about that time.

The sounds that alarmed students might have come from a backfiring automobile, Los Angeles County sheriff’s Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez said via Twitter. There was no evidence of a crime, she added.

Automated calls went out to students and staff, instructing them to shelter in place due to an unspecified threat, though reports on Twitter and from news outlets that included ABC7.com indicated that a possible active shooter was responsible for the massive law enforcement response to the area of Fulton and Burbank.

The report of possible gunshots was later confirmed by police.

At least 30 police units were on scene, KCAL9 reported.

Students said they heard as many as 10 shots near the middle of the LAVC campus, according to a report obtained by CBS2. Police were looking for the possible shooter in buildings near Fulton Avenue and Burbank Boulevard.

Sheriff’s Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez confirmed the evacuation via Twitter. She said that a K9 unit was among those responding.

Students were alarmed, and some took to social media to express their worry and let friends and relatives know they were OK.

“There’s a shooter at my school. We’re in the classrooms. Locked in. Lights out. Everyone’s under their desks. Please pray,” Twitter user @CookedKitfo said on the social media service.

The officers were going building to building, clearing each as they go. Among the units involved in the operation was the LAPD Metro Division SWAT Team, according to a scanner report on Twitter.

Clogged with police vehicles, the corner of Fulton Avenue and Burbank Boulevard was closed to traffic, KCAL9 reported.

The Los Angeles Fire Department reported that 50 firefighters responded to the campus to assist the police agencies involved.

While Los Angeles police generally patrol the surrounding area, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for security on the LAVC campus.

By 8:45 p.m., the LAFD was calling the incident “a static situation,” and was freeing firefighting and rescue units for other duties, the department’s Erik Scott said.

And Deputy Navarro-Suarez, who said that the sounds heard earlier in the evening may have come from a backfiring vehicle, had some advice for motorists on her Twitter feed: “If your car makes noises/backfires, PLZ get it chkd.”