School locked down after report of a person 'who might have had a handgun on campus'
EUGENE, Ore. - Willamette High School went into lockdown Wednesday morning after "a report of a person, possibly a student, who might have had a handgun on campus," a Bethel School District representative said.
The lockdown started at 9:56 a.m.
It was lifted at 10:48 a.m.
The school district posted about the lockdown in progress on its website.
"At the request of Eugene Police we are currently in Lockdown. There was a report of a potential threat on or near campus," the Bethel School District initially said on its website. "Police have responded and are searching the campus. All students and staff are being kept in their classrooms."
The district asked parents not to call or come to school.
Eugene Police said officers responded to the school on Echo Hollow Road at 9:14 a.m.
"Police have responded and contacted several persons who may fit the description and they turned out not to be posing a threat," police initially said. "Police units are on scene still and are systematically working to investigate the report and check the school further."
At 11 a.m., police issued an update:
Police have throughly searched the school and investigated the report; this includes every space, closed or open, analyzed video, and interviewed the one person identified, without finding any issues. The lockdown has been lifted and EPD will maintain a presence at the school today.
The district thanked students at the school for "responding quickly and following directions."
The lockdown has been lifted at Willamette High School. At the request of Eugene Police we kept all students in their classrooms until a search of the campus could be completed. There was a report of a potential threat on or near the Willamette campus. Police could not find any threat.
My thanks to Willamette students for responding quickly and following directions. It is comforting to know that they know what to do in the event of a real emergency.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Police said nearby Cascade Middle School and Malabon and Fairfield elementary schools went into a lockout "as a precaution."
"Just the exterior doors at those schools were locked and students were not allowed outside," the district said in a statement.
Cascade was the scene of a deadly police shooting Friday that left a parent dead after police say the person "produced a firearm" and was shot by police. A deadly force investigation is in progress. The deceased's family has asked for access to video of the incident and other reports as soon as possible.
