2 Knives Found At Middle School After Student Reports Online Post

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — Two knives were found at Chicago Heights Middle School Tuesday morning after a student alerted school officials another student had brought a knife into the building, officials said in an email to parents.

According to Principal William Seidelmann, another student told an administrator about the knife at the start of the school day Tuesday. Classes begin for students at 7:30 a.m.

Seidelmann said the student was found "immediately" and brought into the office. In the email, officials said the student was aware the other had brought a knife after a picture of the student and knife was posted to Instagram. The image has since been removed.

A subsequent search of the student's property and surrounding areas turned up a second knife, though officials told Patch they are still investigating to see if the second knife is connected to the same student.

A spokesperson for the middle school said the building was not placed on lockdown.

"With the help of the Chicago Heights Police Department, our vigilant staff, an honorable student who saw something and reported the situation immediately, we were and are able to maintain a safe and secure learning environment," Seidelmann wrote in an email to students' parents and guardians.

According to officials, the building's morning procedure of stationing teachers and staff members at every entrance and hallway helped the police, security guard and administrators find the accused student quickly.

Administrators said Wednesday afternoon they would use the discipline handbook to "hold the student accountable."