A precautionary lockdown at Lehi High School on Thursday led to an early dismissal for students after a parking lot attendant spotted a handgun in a vehicle on campus, according to Lehi City Police. The attendant's report, made around 12:30 p.m., initiated a search which later revealed that the gun had been moved, as stated by KUTV.
"Surveillance footage showed a juvenile entering the school, then later leaving the building and campus with other juveniles," said Jeanteil Livingston, a spokesperson for Lehi City, per KUTV. Officers subsequently canvassed the school and nearby areas, eventually locating the vehicle and firearms. As a result, students were allowed to leave the premises before the normal release time, and uniformed officers remained stationed at the school to maintain safety, as reported by Herald Extra.
The police’s swift response included locating the handguns, "with a loaded magazine, as well as a second loaded, chambered handgun," revealed in a Lehi Police Department social media statement. These handguns were seized, and authorities are screening for potential criminal charges. The Herald Extra also reported parental reactions, including one mother, Cindy, who stated, "Scary, scary," upon learning about the incident involving her son's school.
The lockdown was officially lifted around 1:15 p.m., and parents were called to pick up their students, according to ABC4. The students relying on bus transport were held in secure classrooms until they could be escorted off campus. Although the juvenile suspect had not yet been taken into custody, officials indicated that there was no ongoing public threat.
