Police Detain Juvenile Male Running From High School
Incident declared resolved on shaker.org, but police are investigating mention of a weapon
A Shaker Heights police car sits outside the main entrance of the high school. “There wasn’t a threat to students’ safety in the building,” Principal Jonathan Kuehnle said. “According to the police, there was no need for a lockdown … just the heightened security that went into keeping an eye on the entrances and exits.”
An announcement titled “Incident at High School” was posted on shaker.org at 11:32 a.m. today that stated, “A juvenile male ran from the High School and is currently in Shaker Heights Police Department custody. He was believed to be in possession of a weapon.”
An update posted at 1:56 p.m. stated, “The incident at the High School this morning involving a juvenile has been safely resolved by the Shaker Heights Police Department. School operations at the High School, Woodbury and Onaway have returned to normal.”
“It basically ended as soon as it began,” Principal Jonathan Kuehnle said.
As of 1:40 p.m., however, John Cole, commander of the SHPD Investigative Bureau, said that the incident is still under investigation.
Cole said the police have not found a weapon, but there was a weapon mentioned. He said he does not know who mentioned the weapon.
The first official statement about the incident was made at 11:30 a.m. via the school’s Twitter account, @shakerschools. It stated, “[High school] student alleged to have gun in police custody. Heightened security at and around [High school, Onaway and Woodbury].”
Parents were sent text messages after each update to shaker.org through the district’s Remind account, and posts were emailed to high school staff.
No P.A. announcement was made to the students of the high school regarding the situation, and none of the three schools went into lockdown.
“There wasn’t a threat to students’ safety in the building,” Kuehnle said. “According to the police, there was no need for a lockdown … just the heightened security that went into keeping an eye on the entrances and exits.”
Police searched the perimeter of the high school building and remain in and around the school. Students at Onaway and Woodbury were not allowed outside for recess during the incident.
Stacy Jones, a Shaker Heights resident who lives near the high school, spoke to police as they searched neighboring backyards for “some property [the student] had dropped.”
Executive Director of Communications Scott Stephens said, on behalf of the district, “We have no comment beyond what we sent out and put on our website.”
Senior Laura Peterjohn said, “Sometimes I wish the district was more direct with the students. The students should be included on the email list with the parents. We’re the ones living it.”
The Shakerite will provide updates as new information becomes available.
Astrid Braun and Zachary Nosanchuk contributed reporting
