5 Students in Custody; Lockdown Lifted at Highland Park Schools Following Report of Student in Possession of Gun

Five students are in custody and lockdowns at Highland Park High School and other Highland Park district schools have been lifted following a report of a student "potentially in possession of a gun" on the high school's campus, city officials said Tuesday.

"Highland Park Police are continuing to investigate reports of a student in possession of a gun at school," the city wrote in an update Tuesday afternoon. "The scene has been secured and law enforcement has confirmed that there is no credible reason to continue the lockdown at Highland Park High School."

Officials added at the "soft lockdown" at other public buildings and schools has also been lifted.

No further information was released surrounding the students in custody.

The situation unfolded just after 11 a.m. when the city of Highland Park issued an alert stating "please be advised of a heavy police presence at Highland Park High School."

"HPHS has been placed on a lockdown due to a report of a student potentially in possession of a gun at school. There are no reported shots fired," the alert stated. "Students and school staff should remain in place to facilitate the work of law enforcement to secure the building."

Shortly after Highland Park posted the notice, the city of Highwood posted a similar update to Facebook, saying "Highwood police are reporting a possible person with a handgun rear Everts Park; Green Bay Road and North Avenue," though it remained unclear if that situation was related. At 11:15 a.m., the city of Highwood said the area had been cleared and there was "no public threat."

Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega noted that lockdowns were also reported at Braeside Elementary School, Red Oak Elementary School and the Highland Park Library, halting "all voter services" at those locations.

"At the point of the lockdown being lifted our office will petition the court to extend voting for the same length of time as the lockdown," Vega said in a statement. "All voters currently unable to vote at Braeside Elementary School, Red Oak Elementary School, or Highland Park Public Library may visit the Lake County Clerk's Office at 18 N County St, Waukegan, IL 60085 to vote if they would prefer not to wait."

Some schools and childcare centers in neighboring towns and villages, including Glencoe, were also placed on "soft lockdown" out of an "abundance of caution," emails to families in those districts show.

In an 11:30 a.m. emailed update to families in District 113, superintendent Bruce Law said that the school received "an anonymous tip reporting a rumor of a student in possession of a gun."

"Immediately following the report of that tip, Highland Park High School reported the tip to law enforcement," the email reads. "As Highland Park High School began investigating the tip, another student came forward to report seeing a student with a gun. At that point, Highland Park Police Department was already on the scene and advised HPHS to go into lockdown."

The email adds that the student alleged to have a gun was identified, and that security footage indicated that "he and another student had left the building," but both were eventually apprehended.

Highland Park High School remained on lockdown as police continued their investigation, but by 12:30 p.m., students were seen being released from the school.

At that time, the city said the lockdown had been lifted at Highland Park High School, as well as other buildings in the area, and five students had been taken into custody.

The school planned to have an early dismissal Tuesday.

Earlier Tuesday, NBC 5's Charlie Wojciechowski reported a few dozen students at Highland Park High School were seen near the campus as part of a walk out in support of gun safety. Students say the walkout was planned in response to the 2022 Fourth of July Shooting at the Highland Park Parade, as well as the school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee.

At 11 a.m. Tuesday, Robert Crimo Jr., the father of the suspected Highland Park shooter, was expected to appear at the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan for a planned hearing.

Crimo Jr. has previously entered a plea of not guilty to charges that he helped his son obtain a gun license three years before the attack.

It is not known whether any of the incidents are related.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.