Handgun Magazine At Evanston Elementary School Leads To Lockdown

EVANSTON, IL — For the second time in five weeks, Evanston public school students went into a state of "lockdown."

Evanston/Skokie School District 65 officials placed Lincolnwood Elementary School on lockdown for about 90 minutes Tuesday morning in response to the discovery of a handgun magazine, according to police and school officials.

"As a precautionary measure, our school is currently on a lockdown with restricted movement within the building," Assistant Superintendent Terrance Little said in a message to families.

"A short time ago, we recovered a magazine from a gun that was provided to us by a student," Little said. "We have contacted the Evanston Police Department for support and are speaking with students who may have more information."

The lockdown, which was implemented as a precautionary measure, was lifted prior to 11 a.m., according to police and district spokespeople.

"With support from the Evanston Police Department (EPD), our investigation confirmed that there are no other weapons on campus, other than the magazine initially recovered which is now in the possession of EPD," Little said in a follow-up message.

"We have been in contact with the student’s family and this matter remains under investigation," he said. "We will work collaboratively with EPD and the student’s family to provide the necessary support."

Police said an 8-year-old boy notified a teacher that he had a loaded magazine in his school bag. The investigation determined it was from a pistol belonging to one of his family members.

That gun has been turned over to Evanston police and his family is cooperating with the investigation. There were no threats to the school or indications that boy had any ill intent. Due to his age, he will not be referred to juvenile court, according to police.

So far this year, schools in Evanston have been placed into lockdown at a rate of more than once a month.

In January, a false report that an employee of the Barbareux School with a firearm license had returned to the Culver Street private school after being fired a day earlier led to that school being locked down.

In February, a 13-year-old brought a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol to Chute Middle School, leading to brief soft lockdown.

In March, concerns over an "emotionally disturbed" man with guns in his apartment led to a multi-hour lockdown of multiple District 65 schools. Police later said the man had made threats against law enforcement, his family or associates and himself, but not against any local schools.

Last week, District 65 Superintendent Devon Horton said the district was planning an event for staff, caregivers and community members in response to the April 12 shooting at Clark Street Beach, which left 18-year-old Skokie resident Jacquis Irby dead and two other Skokie teens wounded. No one is in custody in connection with the shooting, and police declined to comment on how many, if any, guns were found at the beach.

In a Thursday message to District 65 parents, Horton encouraged families to contact school staff to be connected with resources and support to address the trauma.

"In addition, we are planning a community-wide gathering to process emotions, support one another, and promote healing," Horton said, promising more details to come.

"Discussion topics will include how to talk to children about gun violence, how to maintain an antiracist focus while processing these events, and how we can work in partnership to promote safety and belonging for all students," he said.

Earlier this month, Horton announced plans to resign after three years on the job and relocate to DeKalb County in the Atlanta area. District officials have yet to disclose any plans for replacing him following his departure this summer.