No Active Threat Against West Aurora High School: Police

AURORA, IL — West Aurora High School was placed in a hold-in-place Friday morning while police investigated a threat that appeared on social media, the department said on Facebook around 10:40 a.m.

Police said there is no active threat at the school, and numerous officers were on campus investigating the threats. West Aurora School District 129 was made aware of a photo of a firearm circulating at the high school, resulting in the soft lockdown where students and staff are supposed to remain inside a classroom while dealing with a short-term emergency.

An investigation revealed the photo in question was shared in El Paso, Texas, in early 2020 and was not taken on West Aurora High grounds, district officials relayed to Patch. An El Paso news site, ABC7 KVIA, reported the photo along with the incident concerning a local school on Feb. 12, 2020.

Students and staff at the school were given an all-clear message, resuming regular activity, around noon Friday. Students are now operating on an altered schedule to ensure they get lunch, the district said in an update.

After finding no credible threat, Aurora police said they will increase their presence at the school Friday to ensure safety.

At the time of the incident, Superintendent of Schools Jeff Craig said in a message to West Aurora High families: "At this time, we ask that you do not come to the school to pick up your child as no one will be released from the building until the investigation has concluded. Updates will be sent as they are appropriate."