Lockdown Lifted At Wheaton North Over 'Suspicious Item': Police

WHEATON, IL — Wheaton North High School was placed on lockdown as a precaution after a suspicious item was found outside the school on Wednesday, District 200 officials said.

The district said that an item that appeared to be a pried open lockbox that could be used to store a gun was found outside the school, police said. However, officials said that there was no current threat to students or staff and that the lockdown was merely being done as a precaution.

The lockdown was lifted at 11:40 a.m. after district officials determined there was no threat. Wheaton Police remained on campus after the lockdown was lifted to continue to investigate the item that was found.

In a message to the school community, District 200 officials said that administrators always encourage students and staff members to say something if they see something that doesn't feel safe or look right.

"In this situation, members of our school community modeled that behavior and properly executed safety drills as we have trained," the message to parents and community members said.

The district also said that Hawthorne, Lowell, Sandburg, and Washington elementary schools were placed in a “secure-and-teach” status Wednesday morning out of an abundance of caution, but that order has since been lifted and students have resumed their typical school day.

According to the school calendar, Wednesday marked the first day of classes for students in Wheaton. Police said they are investigating the incident and that there was no reason for parents to make their way to the campus.