After Illini Central School Evacuated, No Gun Found
By: Blake Long
Updated: September 19, 2012
MASON CITY: UPDATE: No gun was found after the Illinois State Police SWAT Team searched Illini Central in Mason City.
Students were released from the school around 3:00 p.m. after they had been on lockdown since around 11:00 a.m. after a report of a gun in the building.
Every student was patted down to check for weapons, and every classroom was searched.
The school's superintendent, Lori Harrison came out to say that all of the students were alright, but that message didn't seem to comfort the large group of concerned parents, crowded around the school. Some had been standing there for hours after hearing there might be a gun in the building.
"Oh my god, that was the first thing that went through my head. Scared, what's going to happen with all these kids and how traumatized they're going to be," said parent, Melana King.
Another parent, Amber Jibben was waiting to pick up her three kids and said the situation was, "kinda scary, really scary actually."
Parents said they weren't notified when the threat was received. Instead said they found out on Facebook or by word of mouth or when their children texted them.
"He was like, 'not sure what's going on, we're being held in classrooms, we're on lockdown'," Kind said of the message she got from her sophomore son.
Travis Skelton said it seemed disorganized.
"I mean five, six different stories running around, different officers telling different people different things, so I mean not knowing what to believe keeps your stress level pretty up I'll tell you," he said.
After all of the frustration Skelton said only one thing mattered.
"Just being relieved that everyone was fine. Seeing my daughter walking out of there."
Police said they spoke with multiple people of interest, Mason County is investigating.
The school's superintendent said they notified parents when Illinois State Police gave the school the go-ahead. Parents say that didn't happen until 3:00 p.m., hours after the threat was first received.
Students were released from the school around 3:00 p.m. after they had been on lockdown since around 11:00 a.m. after a report of a gun in the building.
Every student was patted down to check for weapons, and every classroom was searched.
The school's superintendent, Lori Harrison came out to say that all of the students were alright, but that message didn't seem to comfort the large group of concerned parents, crowded around the school. Some had been standing there for hours after hearing there might be a gun in the building.
"Oh my god, that was the first thing that went through my head. Scared, what's going to happen with all these kids and how traumatized they're going to be," said parent, Melana King.
Another parent, Amber Jibben was waiting to pick up her three kids and said the situation was, "kinda scary, really scary actually."
Parents said they weren't notified when the threat was received. Instead said they found out on Facebook or by word of mouth or when their children texted them.
"He was like, 'not sure what's going on, we're being held in classrooms, we're on lockdown'," Kind said of the message she got from her sophomore son.
Travis Skelton said it seemed disorganized.
"I mean five, six different stories running around, different officers telling different people different things, so I mean not knowing what to believe keeps your stress level pretty up I'll tell you," he said.
After all of the frustration Skelton said only one thing mattered.
"Just being relieved that everyone was fine. Seeing my daughter walking out of there."
Police said they spoke with multiple people of interest, Mason County is investigating.
The school's superintendent said they notified parents when Illinois State Police gave the school the go-ahead. Parents say that didn't happen until 3:00 p.m., hours after the threat was first received.
