Students at Carpentersville’s Dundee Crown High School were placed in lockdown Wednesday morning in response to a report of shots fired, police said.
A search of the school has not turned up a suspect or any weapons but students were moved to the fieldhouse as a precaution and were waiting to be reunited with parents, Carpentersville Police Chief Todd Shaver said.
Yandreina Ortega, who learned of the situation from a neighbor, said her 17-year-old daughter was in class when they heard gunfire. Her daughter called her husband to tell him they were hiding in their classroom and trying to stay quiet.
Ortega was among dozens of parents who abandoned their cars on Kings Road, the street leading to the school’s blocked-off entrance, so they could walk to the building and retrieve their children. Many were emotionally upset, and Ortega said that, despite the police chief’s announcement that all students and staff were safe, she wouldn’t be comforted until she could see her daughter.
“(His message) didn’t help,” she said while crying.
The scene became chaotic when students were allowed to exit the fieldhouse but initially not allowed to go to their parents, causing some to get angered and yell at the police. Eventually, parents were allowed to see their children and take them home.
Multiple police agencies responded to the scene, including the Illinois State Police.
The Kane County Sheriff’s Office issued a social media announcement after getting “inundated” with phone calls from people wanting to know what was happening.
Good Morning Kane County. We have been inundated with inquiries surrounding the ever-evolving active situation at the Dundee Crown High School in Carpentersville, Illinois.
“Please know, there is no incident occurring inside or outside the building” per the superintendent, the post said. “All students and staff are safe and under district and building supervision. The lockdown was instituted as a precautionary measure.
“There have been reports of an active shooter, and, as always the safety and security of not only all students but also teachers, surrounding residents, and our police and fire departments are of the utmost importance. We have surrounding police departments, fire departments, and medical teams present and on scene to assist and will continue to brief all of these events.”
School District 300 Superintendent Susan Harkin posted a similar announcement on the high school’s website, www.d300.org/dchs, at 10:07 a.m. and told parents and residents to monitor social media for further updates:
“Law enforcement and Dundee-Crown administration are continuing their investigation of the lockdown at Dundee-Crown.
“Please know, there is no incident occurring inside or outside the building. All students and staff are safe and under district and building supervision. The lockdown was instituted as a precautionary measure.”
Shaver said all the training police have done in anticipation of such an event kicked in and everyone knew what they had to do. The investigation is ongoing, he said.
Check back later for more details.
Freelance reporter Mike Danahey contributed.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
