An arrest was made Wednesday following a student’s false report to police claiming a gunman was spotted entering Joliet Central High School.
School officials instituted a lockdown at approximately 8:15 a.m. to ensure safety of students, faculty and staff members.
“No one was allowed in,” said Cheryl McCarthy, superintendent of Joliet Township High School District 204. “Students who were gathering outside were upperclassmen. Second period had not begun.”
Around that time, Joliet Police conducted an investigation and located the individual who filed the report.
The lockdown was lifted by approximately 11:20 a.m. only to find the student’s report to be unsubstantiated.
Joliet Police did not return calls seeking information on the individual in custody and the charges they might face.
McCarthy said it is unclear why an individual would make a false claim to police, especially in today’s world.
“You would have to ask the student,” she said. “We warn and teach students that a false threat is just as bad as a real threat. All the time and resources spent to ensure safety is a big deal.”
McCarthy stressed that District 204 officials have precautions they intend to adhere to for situations of this type.
After the lockdown was lifted, classes resumed in the building without interruption.
Joliet Township High School District 204 officials sent out information to families the prior week in regards to a similar yet unrelated situation.
When questioned about the days leading up to Wednesday’s false report, McCarthy said school officials had not noted any fights, or disturbances, in the building to serve as reason to have heightened concern.
“We have 3,000 students in the building,” she said. “Students were fine. Some went home.”