High school students were dismissed at 1:45 p.m. today after students informed school officials that a student possessed an unloaded handgun.
“High School administrators investigated and secured the weapon with the aid of the Shaker Heights Police Department,” Principal Eric Juli stated in an email. “No staff or students were harmed and there was no specific threat to the school.”
Classes and after-school activities will resume tomorrow with additional security and police presence in the building. “The student involved in the situation will not be in attendance at school,” the district stated in an 8:50 p.m. update.
The district first informed families of the incident via a 1:39 p.m text message, a 1:40 p.m. robocall and an emergency message on shaker.org. Staff were notified via email a few minutes prior. Juli also made a 1:43 p.m. P.A. announcement, after which students were dismissed.
Sophomore David Rhodes said he was initially anxious when he heard rumors about a weapon. “Once I saw the text and heard the announcement that the cops were handing it and there was no immediate threat, I was just happy to go home early,” he said in a text message.
Despite the report of a weapon, the building was never placed under lockdown. Executive Director of Communications and Public Relations Scott Stephens declined to comment beyond the district’s statements.
In the P.A. announcement, Juli said that students who heard a rumor about a weapon notified staff members, which led to the investigation. “Exactly what we needed to have happen, happened,” he said.
The district stated, “As we experienced today, students and staff members reporting when they see something inappropriate, suspicious or dangerous is a vital aspect of our community, one that helps keep us all safe.”
City Reporter Daniel Carroll contributed reporting.
The Shakerite will continue to cover this story as it develops.
