Lemont School Administrators, Police: Gun Threat at Old Quarry Middle School is a Only a Rumor

Administrators at Old Quarry Middle School received what Superintendent Susan Birkenmaier characterized as a “non-credible rumor” about guns being brought to the school on Friday.

Thursday night, William Caron, principal at Old Quarry, sent home a letter to parents and guardians of students, stating two students had reported to the school office that they had heard a rumor about some students possibly bringing guns to school on Friday, Dec. 21.

“The Lemont Police Department contacted the students who started this rumor and found that it was based on a Facebook posting from a student in Pennsylvania regarding her middle school,” the letter states. “Based on the information we provided and the information the police obtained from our students, it was determined that there was no credible threat to Old Quarry Middle School.”

Caron said the school will “continue to have a police presence on campus on Friday, Dec. 21, and will always investigate any rumors pertaining to weapons or other activities which may endanger our students.”

“We are very proud that our students are comfortable providing us with information regarding inappropriate behavior and want to encourage all of our students to always keep the safety of their classmates and themselves as the highest priority,” Caron wrote.

When contacted by Patch Thursday night, Lemont Police Chief Kevin Shaughnessy confirmed that police will be at local schools tomorrow, as they have been all week in the wake of the school  shootings in Newtown, CT, last Friday.

“Locally, officers investigated it and feel there is no credible threat whatsoever in Lemont – it’s just a rumor,” Shaughnessy said. “Officers will continue to be present at the campus on Friday.”

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