Person With Rifle Reported at Batavia High; Likely Was Student With Baseball Bat
Batavia High School was cleared by 10 a.m. Monday (April 8, 2019) after going on lockdown shortly after 6 a.m. as police investigated reports of a person with a rifle entering the school.
According to a Batavia Police Department news release, the initial call came in around 6:03 a.m.
Police said officers were dispatched to the Batavia High School for a report of a male subject dressed in black enter the Batavia High School at 1201 Main St. The citizen reported the subject may have been armed with a rifle.
Batavia police said their officers and other responding law enforcement agencies conducted a thorough search of the school, and no armed subject was located.
“Through the search and review of video surveillance, it appears the person seen entering the school was a student athlete with a baseball bat sticking out of a backpack,” the Batavia Police Department news release said. “As a result, normal operations and roadway traffic has been resumed.”
Batavia police always encourages residents who see something they find suspicious to call 911 immediately.
“Batavia Police welcomes the opportunity to investigate such calls to confirm or disprove a possible threat,” the news release said.
School officials said buses are resumed pickup of high school students for a 10:51 a.m. start time. Students arrived at their normal bus stops 3 hours and 30 minutes after the normal pick up time.
BHS Police Activity Update 2: School bus routes will resume for BHS students this morning. The routes will pick up students for the 10:51AM start time. Students should arrive at their normal bus stops 3 hours and 30 minutes after the normal pick up time.
— BPS101 (@BPS101) April 8, 2019
Earlier Reports
Police initially said a citizen reported that he or she had seen an individual dressed in black and carrying a rifle entering the school.
Video surveillance shows a student walking to school with what appears to be a baseball bat or an umbrella, Batavia Deputy Police Chief Shawn Mazza told reporters.
Mazza said police had searched the building and found nothing suspicious.
As of 8:40 a.m., the Kane County Sheriff’s Office has cleared the scene.
Deputies responded to assist Batavia Police for an incident at Batavia High School. We are clearing the scene now.
— Kane County Sheriff (@KaneCoSheriff) April 8, 2019
This article will be updated when additional information is available from official sources.
Please stay away from Batavia High School until further notice. Police are responding to a report of an unknown man with a rifle entering the school.
— Batavia, Illinois (@cityofbataviaIL) April 8, 2019
Batavia Police are responding to a report of an unknown male subject with a rifle entering Batavia High School.
— Batavia, Illinois (@cityofbataviaIL) April 8, 2019
Initial Message From Batavia High School Website
Due to police activity at Batavia High School, please wait to come to the Batavia High School this morning. No one is allowed in building at this time. All buses are not operating to Batavia High School at this time. If your child has been picked up by a bus, they will be returned home. More information will be shared as soon as it’s available from the Batavia Police Department. All other schools will be in session with bus service.
