ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Escanaba Area Public Schools says there is no threat to its campuses following a lockdown and large police presence on Thursday.
Around 11:30 a.m., community members noticed a large police presence outside Escanaba Jr/Sr High School. A WZMQ 19 reporter on the scene saw officers from Michigan State Police, the Delta County Sheriff’s Department, and Escanaba Public Safety in front of the main entrance of the school, some with weapons in hand. The school was in lockdown at that time, and several parents were standing across the street waiting for word from the police.
According to a statement released by Escanaba Superintendent Dr. Coby Fletcher, the lockdown was in response to a text a student received from an individual who said they were standing outside with a gun. The text appeared to be from a local number.
At 12:40 p.m., the school district made a Facebook post saying that police had completed their investigation and “determined that there is no threat.”
“Law enforcement subsequently created a safety perimeter around the Junior/Senior High School building and thoroughly searched the school, including classrooms,” Fletcher later said in his statement. “Law enforcement was also present at other district campuses.”
While the district then said schools would be resuming normal operations, law enforcement later recommended the schools remain in “secure mode” until 1:30 p.m. The district said that normal operations would resume after 1:30 p.m. unless the situation changed.
Fletcher’s statement goes on to say that the district appreciates the quick action of the student who notified school authorities of the text they received. The district also thanks the staff who followed emergency protocols and the law enforcement agencies who responded to the incident.
“While we attempt to provide information in a timely manner, specific details are not always readily available or verifiable, situations develop quickly and change rapidly, and our immediate priority is to respond to potential threats in a way that ensures our buildings remain safe and secure,” Fletcher’s statement reads. We are grateful for the patience and understanding of our school community as we respond to circumstances like those that occurred today. Student safety always comes first.”
Fletcher says that trained staff members are available to students who need help dealing with the anxiety caused by the situation.
According to Escanaba Public Safety, law enforcement officers were able to locate and identify the individual(s) responsible for making the threat at approximately 1:00 p.m. The investigation is ongoing.
WZMQ 19 will update this story as more details are released.
