An Elyria City elementary school, Westwood Elementary, experienced tension when a lockdown was initiated after a report of a man with a gun in the school's parking lot on Thursday afternoon. According to Cleveland19, the lockdown lasted approximately five minutes while the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. The lockdown, initiated by administrators who quickly contacted 911, ended safely with the arrest of Daymarion Donte Whitten and was arrested, sat in a blue car in the visitor's parking lot, deputies said.
Deputies arriving six minutes after the call discovered Whitten and a loaded 9mm firearm with an extended magazine under the seat of his vehicle. According to Cleveland.com, Whitten's firearm had its serial number defaced. Facing multiple felonies, Whitten is currently being held in Lorain County Jail for possession of a firearm on school property and being under disability due to a prior felony conviction.
The sheriff's office praised the vigilance of the parent who reported seeing the man with a gun, notably preventing any further escalation of the incident. "I’m proud of the quick response by deputies who contained the incident and didn’t allow this to escalate into a violent situation," said Sheriff Jack Hall, as reported by FOX8. The school resumed activities within the building in a lockout status after the lockdown, restricting entry but allowing the day to continue for students and staff inside.
While the authorities' swift action averted danger, they admitted to not knowing Whitten's intentions. Motive inquiries have been made, but no information has yet been released concerning why Whitten brought a firearm to the elementary school. Steps taken by the school and law enforcement in this situation reflect heightened awareness and readiness in response to potential threats, underscoring the ongoing concerns surrounding school safety.
