May 12, 2009 6:10 pm US/Central
Threat Cancels School In Lockport For Second Day
Officials: Students May Not Bring Backpacks, Water Bottles To School Anymore
LOCKPORT, Ill. (CBS) ―
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Lockport Township High School
CBS
For a second day, bomb-sniffing dogs were at Lockport Township High School.
On Monday, it was after a chemical device exploded. Tuesday, there was a bomb threat. CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports that Tuesday's bomb threat was the third "threatening" incident at the school since last Wednesday when a threatening message was written on a wall.
School officials say given the seriousness of yesterday incident which sent as many as 13 people to the hospital, they couldn't take any chances with the phone call they received today.
Instead of students, bomb squad dogs roamed the halls at Lockport Township High School this afternoon. The K-9 sweep was prompted by a bomb threat left on the school's voicemail system Tuesday morning.
"The call was computer-generated, specifically a threat to east campus at a specific time today," said Lockport Township High School Supt. Garry Raymond.
Superintendent Raymond would not say what that specific time was, but he did say as of 12:30 p.m., the time had already passed. And the "all clear" was given by the bomb squad around 2 p.m.
In response to Monday's chemical explosion at central campus and Tuesday's bomb threat at east campus, school officials say heightened security measures will be taken at both campuses on Wednesday.
Among those, students will not be able to carry their backpacks or purses from class to class. They also won't be allowed to bring any beverage containers into the school because a plastic pop bottle was used in Monday's incident.
"All that they will be taking from class to class is just the school materials they would need for that particular class," Raymond said. "Unfortunately, we're in a position where we really need to raise our state of awareness."
Hall passes will also be limited to emergencies only.
Students who witnessed the explosion at central campus Monday say they understand the safety concerns.
"They say that school is the safest place you can be," said freshman Josh Taylor. "That shows that you can't let your guard down at any time."
"I feel very safe now. I think teachers did a great job yesterday and today, and I think they made the right decision by letting us out early," said freshman Tom Gogola. "You don't want anything to repeat again same situation that we had yesterday."
On Monday, a student prank involving what school officials called a "chemical, improvised device" sent people to the hospital and prompted officials first to place the school on lockdown, then dismiss school for the day.
A student placed a chemical inside a 16-ounce plastic water bottle and set it in the hallway. The bottle exploded, and was releasing black smoke and possible chemicals as students were starting the school day.
Thirteen students were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
The exploding plastic bottle incident followed a threat received at the school on May 6.
A student discovered the words "Schools bombed Weds" in a boy's bathroom May 6. The message was written in pencil and was smaller than most cell phones.
Police and district administrators investigated the threat, deemed it "unsubstantiated" and kept both district high schools open. Staff members were on high alert - issuing hall passes only for emergencies - but the consensus was that the message was a prank, a hoax, a kid itching to enjoy the 75-degree day.
When a chemical-filled plastic bottle exploded Monday and sickened 14 people at the Central campus - the district's freshmen center - parents immediately wondered if the two were linked.
"No, we do not see anything to indicate they were related," Lockport Police Chief Bill Kendziora said.
"We don't see a nexus or a connection at this point," Raymond said earlier.
Although it appears the two incidents just days apart were not executed by the same person, investigators are not ruling out a copycat.
"Anything is possible," Kendziora said.
Officials are following a few leads from Wednesday's threat. Disciplinary action can include expulsion.
"We still feel that it was a prank," Raymond said.
He stands by the district's decision not to cancel classes last week and to increase security at both schools.
"We're all pretty good Monday-morning quarterbacks," Raymond said. "I can just say student safety is our No. 1 concern."
Will County Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case. School officials say with that kind of money on the line, other students are talking about what they know.
CBS 2's Mai Martinez, the Associated Press and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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