The Joliet Police Department responded to early morning calls about an armed man near Joliet Township High School – Central Campus. School officials followed suit by initiating a hard lock down. The incident was later deemed hoax.
At 8 a.m. today, Nov. 1, the Joliet Police Department received a 9-1-1 call, from a caller who refused to identify himself, stating that he worked at Walgreens and observed a male subject wearing a blue hoody walking toward Joliet Township High School – Central Campus with what appeared to be a handgun in his waistband. A second call was received from the same individual stating the suspect was walking into the school with a handgun.
Joliet police officers were immediately in the area, and the school was placed on lockdown. The safety of the students was not in jeopardy. At the time Superintendent Cheryl McCarthy confirmed that no students were being allowed into this school and some students were being kept on buses. Communication between the district and parents stressed that children were safe.
Another call was received from a different caller stating that he observed a subject exit a vehicle with what he identified as “the tip of a rifle.” The subject was described wearing black jeans and a ski mask walking toward the school from the Subway restaurant on Collins Street.
Officers made contact with this second subject and his information was found to be non-credible. During the course of the investigation, officers were able to locate the first caller in the school’s cafeteria during lockdown. His information was also found to be non-credible.
Both callers have been transported to the Joliet Police Department and are being interviewed. Charges are pending.
The lockdown was eventually lifted. This is the most recent statement issued by District 204 about the incident:
“This is Joliet Central High School calling with an update on the lockdown. We are lifting the lockdown at Joliet Central High School as the report of a gun in school was found to be unsubstantiated and was given falsely by an individual who has been identified and is now in police custody. At no time were students or staff in any danger. The school day will resume as normal. Thank you very much for your patience and cooperation. The safety and security of our students and staff is always our first priority. “