A homeless man allegedly threatened to shoot up the police academy next door, and an officer told the school to go on lockdown as police searched for the suspect. The principal issued a statement that said in part, "CPD immediately responded and it was confirmed that the call was made as a prank. Porter-Young was also involved in Whitney Young's popular Best Buddies program, which pairs special education students with other students from the school. Chicago Police said they got a call of a man with a gun at 11:50 a.m. Tuesday in the 1300 block of West Jackson Avenue. All classes were canceled for the day. We were also notified by police that other area districts have received the same prank phone call this morning. Whitney Young High School was locked down Jan. 28, 2020, after students reported a person with a gun. Whitney Young Magnet High School Principal Joyce Kenner, center, with raised arm, celebrates the 2019 opening of a new athetlic complex named after the school's most famous alum, Michelle Obama . They are seen by the U.S. as a way to help bolster Ukraine in its offensive. You don't know who's being bullied. Lucas Williamson, Whitney Young, Shooting Guard - 247Sports ", Just before 10 a.m., Rockford East High School Principal Jim Parker alerted families that "students & staff are safe and accounted for," calling it a "best-case scenario during what could be the worst day of our lives.". Jefferson Park, Portage Park, Norwood Park. The school's art department is also preparing a special project with flowers for the event to honor Porter-Young's love for gardening. They Lost Their Legs. According to Illinois State Police, authorities in at least 19 communities across the state received "threats directed towards schools. You don't know who is being picked on. All rights reserved, Rockford East High School classes were canceled, 2 charged in killing of 5-year-old girl in Park Forest, CHICAGO'S FORECAST: Quieter Weather Ahead, Deadline to file a claim in the new, nationwide Facebook settlement is next month, Facebook Users May Be Eligible For Cash Payment in $725M Class-Action Settlement, Mom who documented ovarian cancer battle on TikTok dies at 30, Italian-American group calls for Ald. Kellie Bartoli, a spokeswoman for the Chicago Police Department, confirmed a training was taking place outside of the police academy, which sits next to the Whitney Young High School campus. The Dixon Police Department along with the Dixon Public Schools Administration have been and will continue to investigate the telephone call that was received this morning. 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Whitney Young School Hosts Active Shooter Drill - CBS Chicago I understand this situation may concern you, and I want to assure you that we are taking it extremely seriously to ensure the safety of our school community. We have since been informed that prank calls have affected other schools in other cities around the country today, not just Whitney Young. CHICAGO - Nineteen counties across Illinois, from Chicago to Rockford to downstate, experienced fake school threats on Wednesday. Rockford East High School classes were canceled, SATs were rescheduled and students were dismissed following what police said was a "false" shooting report, with similar calls reported at other Illinois schools around the same time. Just to be safe, the police walked the building with multiple squads responding.". Officers cleared the school's campus, located at 211 S. Laflin St., and determined the report came from a prank caller. Freeport High School issued a statement on their website home page saying, "Unfortunately, FHS was part of a nationwide trend of what we believe to be a prank phone call today. Dixon police said their 911 dispatch center received a non-emergency call Wednesday morning just after 8:30 a.m. "Responders have not located any actual threats as a result of these calls," the Illinois state police said in a statement. The assailants never even grabbed the shoes, said Carla Sumerlin, speculating that her sons size and physique might have spooked the would-be robbers. The ISP Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center currently has no information concerning credible threats related to school safety. The lockdown was lifted five minutes later after two school resource officers went outside and determined the person was involved in the training exercise, Whitney Young principal Joyce Kenner said in an email sent to parents. Just to be safe, the police walked the building with multiple squads responding. Responders have not located any actual threats as a result of these calls, the Illinois state police said in a statement. Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Harris set the tone for the. Updated on: February 12, 2016 / 10:42 PM They are seen by the U.S. as a way to help bolster Ukraine in its offensive. "We were also notified by police that other area districts have received the same prank phone call this morning. Classes were canceled for the day after police gave the all clear. He was a member of the first team in Southeastern University history to win the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics World Seriesin 2018, the school said. So last week she sent letters to everyone on the 2400 block of West Polk reminding them that her sons life was taken on that block and asking for anyone with information to contact the police. Doctors and Health Care Giants Profited. Around the same time, Chicago police responded to Whitney Young High School for a shooting report. Porter-Young's autism limited his verbal skills, and he had a hard time communicating with people he didn't know, according to Corryne Irvin, a special education teacher at Whitney Young. Police are investigating. When he didn't get off the bus," Irvin said. Counselors, social workers and psychologists were also being made available for those who need them. Number two, the trauma it causes to our parents and students and number three, we hate to see the academic day disrupted.". Torrence Sumerlin Jr., who played baseball for Whitney Young High School and Southeastern University, with his mother, Carla. Officers cleared the school's campus . Both teens have been identified, but Breeden said "their names will not be confirmed or released at this time by the police department due to their juvenile status.". Copyright 2023 WLS-TV. Officers arrived within two minutes of being called, and the school of more than 2,000 students went on lockdown, Breeden said.There were no threats made to the school or any students or staff there, she said. Again, this is the best-case scenario of a terrible situation.". Every precaution will be taken including assistance from the Cook County Bomb Squad to ensure the safety of the school, Vetter wrote. "It's a lot of mixed emotions. Students at Rockford East High School were scheduled to take the SAT exam Wednesday. . "Number one, because any time we test the safety response, that diverts resources away from our entire community and that is not okay. He was an athlete. Again, this is the best-case scenario of a terrible situation.". Whitney Young goes deep with young, blue chip-level talent. Jesse Jackson at Rainbow PUSH Coalition convention. Whitney Young student Christian Alvarez told CBS, which first reported the story, that the schoolshould have been notified ahead of the training especially with the many shootings that have taken place at school campuses. Add Timeline Events Add Stats. The incident was isolated. First published on February 12, 2016 / 1:04 PM. As of 3 p.m. Illinois State Police said law enforcement in 19 counties dealt with threats directed at schools, totaling at least 21 calls in 21 cities. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Multiple police departments responded to high schools in Chicago, Rockford, Dixon and others throughout the state after a series of phone calls claiming there were active shooters or students with guns in the schools. They told me, Were working hard on it, she said. CBS 2 News is told this drill will not be the last. Whitney Young High School, Chicago (IL) Basketball Players - RealGM Whitney M. Young Magnet High School Principal Rickey Harris confirmed his West Loop school had been targeted by the false calls. He was a driving force behind starting a business over the summer with his mother to purchase and rent out other properties in Chicago. Whitney Young faculty and staff were given a choice to participate. "Were working with Rockford Police as they continue to investigate," Parker said. Folkerts said the "extremely bright" Brandon was primed to get a job after graduating at the end of the school year. The principal at Whitney Young said she wants more training for staff after the most recent shooting in Parkland, Florida. Just to be safe, the police walked the building with multiple squads responding. Nineteen counties across Illinois, from Chicago to Rockford to downstate, experienced fake school threats on Wednesday. Our police officers went outside and it was determined the Police Academy next door was conducting a training exercise under one of our bridges. 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The full list of areas reporting such calls as of 3 p.m. Wednesday included: Champaign, Champaign CountyChicago, Cook CountyAurora, DuPage CountyCarbondale, Jackson CountyMurphysboro, Jackson CountyMount Vernon, Jefferson CountyVienna, Johnson CountyDixon, Lee CountyDecatur, Macon CountyGranite City, Madison CountyCollinsville, Madison CountyCentralia Marion CountyBloomington, McLean CountyJacksonville, Morgan CountyPeoria, Peoria CountyPittsfield, Pike CountyEldorado, Saline CountySpringfield, Sangamon CountyFreeport, Stephenson CountyMarion, Williamson CountyRockford, Winnebago County, Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Kenner blasted the lockdown as inexcusable and a disruption to our school, and said the two school resource officers would visit with their commander to discuss the incident. "Me and my friend were in front of the school and we heard like, two loud shots, and we thought it was just someone popping a bag or something," the student said. I cried when I got home. Principal Joyce Kenner called the mixup "inexcusable." "With any comment(s) or threat, the safety and security of our students and staff is our utmost priority and we take any threats with the utmost seriousness," Dixon police said in a press release. Torrence Sumerlin played baseball at Whitney Young High School and was a 2013 graduate from the school, which held a funeral service for him in August. Brian wondered. Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - We have new details on a shooting that shut down a Phoenix high school Monday. Anyone with tips should call 833-408-0069 or 312-746-7330. Hes expected to make a full recovery. The active shooter drill is the largest drill in all of Chicago Public Schools. It apparently occurred as SAT testing was scheduled at the school on South Laflin Street. Teen hospitalized following Phoenix-area high school shooting He would preach it to his brothers and cousins, and he was starting out. "Somebody knows something. Last month, the Chicago Tribune detailed the rise of other swatting situations in the area. Torrence Sumerlin, Whitney Young athlete, shot over a pair of shoes High School Report. CHICAGO (WLS) -- Faculty and students at Whitney Young High School on Monday were mourning the loss of a popular student with special needs who was stabbed to death at his temporary apartment in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side. Phoenix school shooting began with gun deal gone wrong - KYMA More recently hed been working as an Uber Eats delivery driver and, shortly before his death, had purchased a two-flat building on the Near West Side as an investment property and thefirst step of a plan to create generational wealth for his family. Bogus active school shooting reports known as 'swatting' erupt in 22 Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards. Counseling and other support are available for students who voice any fears about the untrue but startling calls, Harris said. The ISP Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center currently has no information concerning credible threats related to school safety.. "Families, students and staff felt a real sense of concern this morning and we are just thrilled that all of our students and staff were safe," said Rockford 205 Superintendent Ehren Jarret. Jim Peterik of the Ides of March was on stage at the Des Plaines Theatre on Sunday afternoon when he collapsed. They are seen by the U.S. as a way to help bolster Ukraine in its offensive. High School Whitney Young; City Chicago, IL; Class 2023; Player Rating i 247Sports. ", The calls are believed to be a part of what one district called a "nationwide trend. Police responded to the call of a shooting at Independence High School just before 8 a.m. and found the two victims' bodies on an outdoor portion of the campus under a covered patio near the school's cafeteria, Breeden said. Since early December, Porter-Young had been living with his mother at the Jr Plaza Hotel II, 3001 W. Jackson Blvd., said Annie Harris, a hotel employee. Whitney Young High School in Chicago, Rockford's East High School, Freeport High School, Dixon High School targeted. The threat was determined to be unfounded. No active shooters were confirmed in any of these instances. The call indicated that there was a real emergency when in fact there was not. But it's traumatizing for students and parents to have a call like that and a tremendous waste of public resources at the least. Police are characterizing this as a prank phone call swatting incident, and are promising to find out who made the fake phone call.