Student Charged With Having Gun At Highland Park High School

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — One of five Highland Park High School students taken into custody for questioning Tuesday brought a gun to school, authorities said.

One local teen has been petitioned delinquent in juvenile court on charges of possession of a firearm in a school and disorderly conduct, according to a statement from city staff.

A handgun was found at an unspecified off-campus location, staff said.

"Further, it has been determined that there was not a plot by multiple individuals to engage in violence at the High School," the statement said, leaving open the possibility that one person did have such a plan.

A report that a student had brought a handgun into the school led to a lockdown that lasted more than 90 minutes, starting around 10:45 a.m. on Tuesday — the 9 month anniversary of a mass shooting at the town's Independent Day parade and the date of a planned student walk-out demonstration against gun violence.

Other public buildings in the area were placed under soft lockdowns, including two North Shore School District 112 schools, Deerfield High School, the Highland Park Public Library, Glencoe School District 35 and the Glencoe Park District.

City staff said five students were taken into custody for questioning. The lockdown was lifted around 12:30 p.m.

The rapid response of police and school district staff was "facilitated by the prompt reporting of concerns from students through the established process at the High School," according to staff.

According to Township High School Superintendent Bruce Law, HPHS staff reported an anonymous tip about a rumor of a student with a gun to law enforcement shortly before 10:30 a.m.

As school officials began to investigate, a student reported witnessing a fellow student with a gun, and police advised the school to go under lockdown, the superintendent said in a message to the community.

Within an hour, the student who allegedly had a gun was identified, spotted on security video leaving the building with another student and apprehended by officers, Law said.

The school remained locked down for about another hour while authorities continued to sweep the building.

"Highland Park High School students are to be commended for their composure under pressure and their calm, measured response to this incident, which greatly assisted law enforcement and school leadership in swiftly securing the high school campus," city staff said.

As of Wednesday, none of the other five students taken into custody Tuesday have been charged, according to staff, who noted that state law prevents the release of records relating to people under 18 who have been investigated, arrested or taken into custody.

No information was available from city and police spokespeople regarding:

• whether the arrested student left campus while in possession of the gun on Tuesday
• whether someone planned to engage in violence alone
• the type of handgun, where it was found, whether it was loaded and whether it was legally acquired
• the provision of state law under which the arrested student was charged

A city spokesperson said Wednesday evening that state law prevents the release of any of the above information.

Earlier: Tips About Gun At Highland Park High School Led To Lockdown, 5 Students Taken Into Custody