Tension briefly gripped the community around Liberty Hills Elementary School in Lehi on Wednesday when the local school was placed on a soft lockdown, known as "secure status," following reports of a suspicious person nearby. According to Rich Stowell, spokesperson for the Alpine School District, swift action was taken as authorities were alerted to the situation. Stowell, as reported by ABC4, described the protocol as involving locking the doors leading outside while students were securely held inside the school.

The incident escalated when reports emerged of an armed individual in the vicinity, prompting the police to search. Alarming as it was, located a few blocks from the school, the man was indeed found and taken into custody. With a knife in his possession, the severity of the threat he posed became all too tangible. However, Lehi police later stated that they did not believe students were in immediate danger, according to KSL Newsradio.

Ensuring the safety of the students until the situation was fully assessed, officials with Lehi City confirmed that the investigation was completed before the school day ended and the children were released. The protocol was eventually lifted around 2:45 p.m., as reported by Alpine School District's director of communications, Rich Stowell, as obtained by KUTV. This resolution allowed students to leave the school grounds without further incident.