Lincolnwood Elementary School went on a brief lockdown Tuesday morning after a handgun magazine was recovered from a student, according to statements by Evanston/Skokie School District 65 and the Evanston Police Department.
EPD officers responded to the school around 9:15 a.m. after an 8-year-old boy informed his teacher that he had a loaded handgun magazine in his bag, according to news releases from the department. A magazine, often incorrectly called a “clip,” is a device that allows multiple rounds of ammunition to be loaded into firearms.
The school then went on lockdown and movement inside the building was restricted as officers investigated if any weapons were present on campus. The district notified families via text when the lockdown began and later sent an email shortly before 10 a.m., according to District 65 Communications Specialist Hannah Hoffmeister.
“Parents/caregivers and visitors are not able to enter the building at this time,” an initial lockdown statement from District 65 said. “Please do not come to the school as it’s important that we can focus on enacting our safety protocols.”
EPD announced on Twitter at 10:49 a.m. that the lockdown had been lifted, and a second statement from District 65 confirmed officers had not found any weapons.
“While we are resuming our regular daily operations, we know this has caused a disruption to our school day and students are likely feeling a range of emotions,” the second district statement said. “We are sending our district CARES team of our dedicated social workers to support individual students and classrooms as needed.”
An afternoon news release from EPD said officers determined the magazine was from a handgun belonging to a family member of the boy; the gun was later turned over to the police.
“There were no threats to the school and the investigation did not reveal any intent by the juvenile to cause harm,” the afternoon EPD release said. “The juvenile was released to his family. Due to his age he will not be referred to Juvenile Court. The family is cooperating with the continuing investigation.”
This is a developing story which will be updated as further information becomes available.
Charge. The. Family. Member!
Hear! Hear! Enough is enough.