10-22-2009, 05:41 PM
Here is an update. Somebody told me once they believed at least 60% of the students, girls and boys, were gang bangers, had some affiliations. If four students have been arrested imagine how much more there are... This is a crisis.
Four students charged in Waukegan High lockdown
Comments
October 22, 2009
BY KENDRICK MARSHALL <!-- e --><a href="mailto:kmarshall@snc1.com">kmarshall@snc1.com</a><!-- e -->
Four Waukegan High School students are charged today with unlawful use of a weapon, the day after a report of a student with a gun at the Washington Street campus led to a lockdown at the school.
Three 15-year-olds and one 14-year-old have been taken to the Depke Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills. All four face a Class 4 felony charge.
Three 15-year-olds and one 14-year-old have been taken to the Depke Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills. All four face a Class 4 felony charge.
The incident began at around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday after police say a student reported to a physical education teacher that another student in the boys locker room was carrying a handgun.
» Click to enlarge image
Students look out a window as they wait to be dismissed at Waukegan High School, the Washington Street Campus during a lockdown at the school.
(Michael Schmidt/News-Sun)
RELATED STORIES
⢠Gun in school
The incident began at around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday after police say a student reported to a physical education teacher that another student in the boys locker room was carrying a handgun.
The teacher saw a group of teens standing together in the locker room, one of whom was holding the handgun. When the student saw the teacher approaching he ran out of the locker room, with the teacher in pursuit, calling for the School Resource Officer.
The student ran out of the building and was caught by the teacher near Victory Street and Glen Rock Avenue. The teacher turned over the student and the unloaded 9mm handgun to the Resource Officer.
The school was then placed on lockdown as a precaution while school security and police looked for a reported second gun. That weapon was not found after several hours of searching.
Authorities said further investigation into the location of the second gun in the school revealed that the gun was removed from the school by a student prior to police arrival.
The student that reportedly removed that gun is one of those arrested in this incident, police said.
That second gun has yet to be recovered.
Waukegan High Principal Steve Hamlin said that an internal investigation revealed it is likely the first gun was brought into the school through an unsecured door or window.
Hamlin said messages were sent to parents that the school was on lockdown and later that the students were being released from school.
As a result, school security was beefed up Thursday with extra personnel stationed at various locations around the building.
All students were ushered through metal detectors and scanners at the main entrance of the school.
Hamlin said the school is currently testing magnetic doors that will prevent students from leaving the building without authorization or trying to bypass metal detectors.
If the test is successful the doors will be implemented as soon as possible.
Staff members will have magnetic key cards to open the doors, and panic buttons will automatically unlock the doors in case of a fire or other emergency.
Magnetic doors are currently being used at Waukegan High School's Brookside Campus.
"I think parents understand we are doing what we are supposed to do," said William Newby, executive director of safety and security at the school. "It is very disconcerting that a student would be bold enough to bring a gun to school, but it is not totally uncommon...it happens in rural and urban areas."
While Newby realizes some students will attempt to breach security by bringing guns or contraband to school, he said the key is prevention and then quickly responding when something happens.
"We have a well-informed staff," said Newby. "This was no small operation, and everyone from security to teachers to police did a wonderful job of responding to the situation."
Newby said District 60 has been continually upgrading security measures and providing the latest cutting edge materials and information in regards to crisis management as mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education.
"We are not perfect, but we do a pretty good job when it comes to safety," Newby said.
During yesterday's incident, all of the students were housed inside the 1011 Washington St. building until the weapons search was completed.
Just after 4 p.m. the 1,500 students exited one class at a time through metal detectors for dismissal.
By 5 p.m., the campus was cleared of all students and officials began a locker search detail. No other weapons were uncovered.
Lt. Edward Fitzgerald said besides the initial student observed with the gun, "the three other students were charged based on the fact that at some point they each handled the gun."
Police are not disclosing why the gun was brought to school, saying students interviewed during the investigation gave conflicting statements. Also, schools officials are not expected to take disciplinary actions against the students involved until a complete investigation has concluded.
If convicted of the Class 4 felony, the teens face a one to three year sentence.
Four students charged in Waukegan High lockdown
Comments
October 22, 2009
BY KENDRICK MARSHALL <!-- e --><a href="mailto:kmarshall@snc1.com">kmarshall@snc1.com</a><!-- e -->
Four Waukegan High School students are charged today with unlawful use of a weapon, the day after a report of a student with a gun at the Washington Street campus led to a lockdown at the school.
Three 15-year-olds and one 14-year-old have been taken to the Depke Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills. All four face a Class 4 felony charge.
Three 15-year-olds and one 14-year-old have been taken to the Depke Juvenile Detention Center in Vernon Hills. All four face a Class 4 felony charge.
The incident began at around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday after police say a student reported to a physical education teacher that another student in the boys locker room was carrying a handgun.
» Click to enlarge image
Students look out a window as they wait to be dismissed at Waukegan High School, the Washington Street Campus during a lockdown at the school.
(Michael Schmidt/News-Sun)
RELATED STORIES
⢠Gun in school
The incident began at around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday after police say a student reported to a physical education teacher that another student in the boys locker room was carrying a handgun.
The teacher saw a group of teens standing together in the locker room, one of whom was holding the handgun. When the student saw the teacher approaching he ran out of the locker room, with the teacher in pursuit, calling for the School Resource Officer.
The student ran out of the building and was caught by the teacher near Victory Street and Glen Rock Avenue. The teacher turned over the student and the unloaded 9mm handgun to the Resource Officer.
The school was then placed on lockdown as a precaution while school security and police looked for a reported second gun. That weapon was not found after several hours of searching.
Authorities said further investigation into the location of the second gun in the school revealed that the gun was removed from the school by a student prior to police arrival.
The student that reportedly removed that gun is one of those arrested in this incident, police said.
That second gun has yet to be recovered.
Waukegan High Principal Steve Hamlin said that an internal investigation revealed it is likely the first gun was brought into the school through an unsecured door or window.
Hamlin said messages were sent to parents that the school was on lockdown and later that the students were being released from school.
As a result, school security was beefed up Thursday with extra personnel stationed at various locations around the building.
All students were ushered through metal detectors and scanners at the main entrance of the school.
Hamlin said the school is currently testing magnetic doors that will prevent students from leaving the building without authorization or trying to bypass metal detectors.
If the test is successful the doors will be implemented as soon as possible.
Staff members will have magnetic key cards to open the doors, and panic buttons will automatically unlock the doors in case of a fire or other emergency.
Magnetic doors are currently being used at Waukegan High School's Brookside Campus.
"I think parents understand we are doing what we are supposed to do," said William Newby, executive director of safety and security at the school. "It is very disconcerting that a student would be bold enough to bring a gun to school, but it is not totally uncommon...it happens in rural and urban areas."
While Newby realizes some students will attempt to breach security by bringing guns or contraband to school, he said the key is prevention and then quickly responding when something happens.
"We have a well-informed staff," said Newby. "This was no small operation, and everyone from security to teachers to police did a wonderful job of responding to the situation."
Newby said District 60 has been continually upgrading security measures and providing the latest cutting edge materials and information in regards to crisis management as mandated by the Illinois State Board of Education.
"We are not perfect, but we do a pretty good job when it comes to safety," Newby said.
During yesterday's incident, all of the students were housed inside the 1011 Washington St. building until the weapons search was completed.
Just after 4 p.m. the 1,500 students exited one class at a time through metal detectors for dismissal.
By 5 p.m., the campus was cleared of all students and officials began a locker search detail. No other weapons were uncovered.
Lt. Edward Fitzgerald said besides the initial student observed with the gun, "the three other students were charged based on the fact that at some point they each handled the gun."
Police are not disclosing why the gun was brought to school, saying students interviewed during the investigation gave conflicting statements. Also, schools officials are not expected to take disciplinary actions against the students involved until a complete investigation has concluded.
If convicted of the Class 4 felony, the teens face a one to three year sentence.