ESCANABA, MI— Escanaba Area Public Schools were placed on lockdown Thursday morning because of a threat of violence.
In a Facebook post, Superintendent Coby Fletcher said around 11:15 a.m., a student at the Escanaba Junior/Senior High School reported that a threat was texted to her phone. It came from what appeared to be a local number. the person making the threat stated that they were outside the Junior/Senior High School building with a gun.
The Junior/Senior High School went into immediate lockdown and police from multiple jurisdictions were notified. All other district campuses received an automated notification and also locked down.
Officers created a safety perimeter around the Junior/Senior High School building and thoroughly searched it. Police were also present at the other Escanaba campuses. Law enforcement determined there was no immediate threat to the school.
Out of an abundance of caution, schools were asked to remain in secure mode until 1:30 p.m. before resuming normal operations.
Around 1 p.m., the Escanaba Department of Public Safety located the individual suspected of making the threat. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities continue to gather information related to the incident.
