Police: One Person In Custody After West High School Put On Lockdown
Aug 28, 2019, 12:59 PM | Updated: 6:25 pm
Photo: Derek Petersen
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – West High School was put on lockdown Wednesday morning and a person was taken into custody, police said.
According to the Salt Lake City Police Department, the incident was contained and the lockdown was lifted by 1 p.m. Police said there was no further danger to students or the public.
The lockdown caused concern for many parents and student after a juvenile reportedly came on campus with a handgun.
Victoria Lemus rushed to the school after her son, Mikiah Hungerford, texted her saying the school was on lockdown.
“It hit home really, hard like I was just afraid for my peers,” Hungerford said. “I was on the computer and I saw a kid get into a corner; and I was like, ‘you know what I am going to get into the same corner he is.’”
The lockdown lasted about 30 minutes.
“We are now going to release the lockdown” school officials announce over the intercom. @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/8hVuasPIAy
— Garna Mejia KSL (@GarnaMejiaKSL) August 28, 2019
“The school used to be this kind of safe place and then all of a sudden there was a bunch of people deciding to shoot up schools,” said student Gerardo Lopez.
School officials confirmed a West High student was seen with a handgun in the bathroom after he dropped it and picked it back up.
In a letter to parents the school’s principal, Ford White, said:
“Around 12:15 p.m. today, we had a student report that he had seen another student with a gun in a school restroom. Immediately upon receiving this report we called police and began a search for the reported student. Because we did not know his location at that time, the school was put into LOCKDOWN. Our students and employees acted admirably as they locked all school doors and moved away from any windows or doors. Police searched the halls and classrooms, and we were able to locate the reported student in a short amount of time. Police report the student was carrying a handgun, and they are currently investigating any possible motive for the student bringing the weapon to school.
“I understand this was a very scary situation for our students and families. If your student needs to speak with someone, we will have counselors available. Please do not hesitate to reach out to them.”
Salt Lake City Police said they were able to quickly coordinate with the school’s resource officers to locate the student on campus. KSL TV’s cameras caught the moment a teen was escorted into a police car.
The #KSLTV photojournalists recording as police place one in custody after they investigated a report of a weapon at West High School Wednesday afternoon…. pic.twitter.com/hTffO4wDRv
— KSL_Photography (@KSL_Photography) August 28, 2019
“And did recover a handgun from that individual. That individual is a juvenile, currently in custody and at this time charges will be pending against them,” said SLCPD Detective Michael Ruff.
For now, Victoria Lemus said her family will be coming up with a plan of action for situations like these in hopes they never have to use it.
The school said police are investigating a motive.
