Newton PD: Middle School Lockdown Ends, Students' Reports Of Man With Handgun Unfounded

Newton's Halsted Middle School was in lockdown for more than an hour Tuesday after students told school officials that two suspicious men were outside and one may have had a weapon, authorities said.

Police responded to reports of a suspicious individual possibly with weapons at Halsted Middle School in Newton Tuesday.
Photo Credit: *David Wildrick*

Cecilia Levine

05/07/2019 4:55 p.m.

An investigation by Newton police at 2:20 p.m. found the concerns to be unfounded, and staff and students were dismissed at 3:30 p.m., Newton Chief Michael Richards and District Superintendent Kennedy Greene said in a joint release.

"I am grateful for our students who spoke up when they saw something and for all the adults involved for their patient, cautious approach to keeping everyone safe," Greene said.

"Even though this was proven to be unfounded, our security protocols and practices worked extremely well."

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