Crime & Safety
Teen Who Stole Car May Have Gun, Is Still On The Run: Lake Villa PD
The 13-year-old boy is accused of stealing an SUV from the parking lot of a Lake Villa middle school and then fleeing.
LAKE VILLA, IL — A 13-year-old middle school student is still on the lam after he stole a sports utility vehicle from his school's parking lot Friday and possibly got his hands on a gun, police said. And now, District 41 schools are on lockdown as rumors that are "connected" to the Friday incident involving the teen have been circulating.
It all started on Friday morning when the 13-year-old boy took a staff member's car keys and then stole the 2019 Kia Sorento SUV from the parking lot at Palombi Middle School, 133 McKinley Ave., according to police.
Authorities say that while he was on the run, he may have also gotten access to a gun, according to a news release from the Lake Villa Police Department. The stolen SUV was recovered early Tuesday in the Rockford area but as of Wednesday morning, the teen is still missing.
Find out what's happening in Grayslakefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Authorities have not provided a description of the teen and are not naming him since he is a juvenile.
Meanwhile, District 41 schools in Lake Villa were placed on soft lockdown Wednesday amid "rumors" of a student "shooting up" a school, according to school officials. The rumors are "connected" to the Friday incident involving the teen, authorities said, but they did not elaborate on how it was all connected.
Find out what's happening in Grayslakefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
While on schools are on lockdown Wednesday, students were allowed to move around inside the buildings but recess has been cancelled. It's unclear at this point if after-school activities will be cancelled or when the lockdown will be lifted but District 41 officials are expected to provide an update soon on its Facebook page.
The Palombi Middle School student who is on the lam is a ward of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and has since been deemed to be a missing runaway juvenile, according to Lake Villa police Lt. James DeCaro. Police say he could be armed.
This is a developing story. Patch will update with more information as it becomes available.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
