Schools in the Monmouth-Roseville School District were placed in a “soft lock down” status after a threat was made toward the district.
The lock down was reported late Wednesday morning, October 21, 2015, according to city officials in Monmouth, Illinois; the threat was directed at the high school according to police and a tweet from City Administrator Lowell Crow.
“It was brought to our attention that an individual told some current high school students that he was going to ‘shoot up the school today at 2 p.m.,'” said a statement from Superintendent Edward Fletcher. Police also increased their presence at the schools during the precautionary soft lock down.
A person of interest was identified and arrested; Crow later identified the suspect as a 15-year-old boy.
The 15-year-old lives in Galesburg, and was detained at the Mary Davis Detention Center, according to a statement issued by the Monmouth Police Department.
District officials initially indicated the schools would be on soft lock down Wednesday and Thursday; however, the lock down was lifted, and Parent Teacher conferences will go on as scheduled, Supt. Fletcher said. Athletic practices will also be held as previously scheduled.