Report of weapon at Belleville West HS; students sent home early

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BELLEVILLE, Ill. (KMOX) – (UPDATED 3:24 p.m.) Students were sent home early from Belleville West High School after reports that a student may have had a weapon. 

A recorded phone message was sent to parents:

"It was reported to school personnel that a student may be in possession of a weapon," the message said, and administrators and the Belleville Police Department decided it was necessary to dismiss students early.

Belleville police later shared on its Facebook page that police became aware of a student with a loaded firearm at the high school about 11:15 a.m.

"The initial investigation revealed a student stated he brought a firearm to the school, and had the firearm in his book bag," the post reads. "The student placed his book bag in his gym locker and attended gym class. The student returned to his locker, and discovered his book bag had been searched by an unknown subject. The firearm was missing from the book bag."

On February 11, 2019 at about 11:15am Belleville Police became aware of a student with a loaded firearm at Belleville West High School. Officers and Detectives with BPD responded to assist school staff. The... https://t.co/MllBmErsLS

— Belleville Police (@PDBelleville) February 11, 2019

The school went on lockdown, and students were systematically dismissed.

"This controlled dismissal was conducted out of an abundance of caution with the potential of an armed subject inside of the school," according to the post.

Police write that the investigation is ongoing as they continue to interview "several juvenile subjects" involved.

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