Lockdown lifted at Lincoln-Way Central High

NEW LENOX (Sun-Times Media Wire) - A southwest suburban high school was put on lockdown Friday morning after a person was reported walking nearby carrying an unknown object, but the lockdown has been lifted.

Lincoln-Way Central in New Lenox was placed on soft lockdown about 8 a.m. after New Lenox police received a report of a person carrying an unidentified object walking eastbound on U.S. 30, according to a statement on the Lincoln-Way Community School District 210 website.

A parent called the Will County sheriff’s office at 7:57 a.m. to report that, while dropping off their child at school, they had seen a student walking along U.S. 30 in front of the school holding a “black object,” the sheriff’s office said. It was not immediately clear what the object was.

School resource officers notified the administration, and the school was placed on a lockdown, the sheriff’s office said. About 100 students who arrived at the school after the lockdown started were sent home.

The lockdown was lifted about 11 a.m.

“After a thorough investigation conducted by Will County Sheriff’€™s Department, New Lenox Police Department and Frankfort Police Department, it has been determined that there is no threat to the safety of our students,” the school district posted on its website. “… the normal schedule has been resumed.”

Officers continue to investigate the incident and review surveillance tapes, according to the sheriff’s office.