Hinsdale South Fears To Be Addressed At Meeting

DARIEN, IL – A meeting is planned for Monday night to address local fears after a loaded gun was discovered last week at Hinsdale South High School.

The meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. in South's auditorium.

"While immediate action was taken to ensure the safety of our students and staff, this event has understandably caused worry, questions, and a desire for collective solutions within our community," Superintendent Michael Lach said in a mass email to parents early Sunday evening.

At the meeting, officials plan to share updates on the incident and actions taken by authorities, discuss ongoing safety measures, and take questions and hear concerns from residents.

According to the statement, officials attending will include Lach, Darien Mayor Joseph Marchese, DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin, and County Board members Lucy Evans and Kari Galassi.

"We believe that by coming together, we can not only address immediate concerns but also strengthen our community's resilience and trust," Lach said.

Authorities said they discovered a 16-year-old boy had a 9mm Taurus GX-4 handgun late Thursday morning during a routine visit to the dean's office.

The Willowbrook boy was arrested on felony charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in public and unlawful possession of a firearm under 18. He was ordered locked up until his next court appearance on Dec. 2.

After the incident, the school said it planned to use its weapons detection system until at least the Thanksgiving break.