Lockdown At Joliet Central High School: Joliet's Police Department Initiated This Decision

JOLIET, IL — School officials for Joliet Township High School District 204 announced that there was a lockdown on Tuesday morning at Joliet Central and the nearby Pathways & Transition Center.

As of 12:30 p.m., the lockdown was lifted. The lockdown was initiated by the Joliet Police Department based on a threat they received over social media, school officials revealed. "The threat was deemed to not be viable. Out of an abundance of caution, there will be an extra police presence on campus today."

Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English issued a press release explaining the sequence of events.

He said that at 11:42 a.m., the Joliet Police Department received a call from an unknown person communicating a threat related to the outside vicinity of Joliet Central High School.

Officers responded immediately and worked in close coordination with school administrators to implement safety procedures, including a temporary lockdown of Joliet Central High School, Pathways, and the Transition Center while officers conducted a systematic search of the surrounding area.

"At this time, no evidence of a credible threat has been located, and the incident has been determined to be fully unsubstantiated. Throughout the incident, the Joliet Police Department remained in constant communication with school officials focused on the safety and well-being of students, staff, and the surrounding community," English relayed. "Out of an abundance of caution, an additional police presence will remain at the school through dismissal."