Toy Gun Sticking Out Car Window Forces Plainfield School Lockdown

PLAINFIELD, IL — Plainfield School District 202 schools were forced into lockdown Monday afternoon after a car was seen driving down Essington Road with a gun out the window, according to district officials. The gun turned out to be a toy.

The incident happened around 2:45 p.m., and local police directed Eichelberger Elementary School and JFK Middle School, both located on Essington Road, into a soft lockdown. Liberty Elementary School, also on Essington, went into hard lockdown.

Plainfield East High School students were already out of school at the time, but students who were outside were brought indoors and held in place, according to Tom Hernandez, the district's director of community relations.

Police found the silver car near River Hills Park after a caller reported the car drove by two pedestrians and, with what appeared to be a black gun, demanded the pedestrians' wallets before quickly speeding off, according to Bolingbrook police, who were assisted during the incident by Plainfield police.

Responding officers found the car again and conducted a traffic stop, during which three toy firearms were found in the car, Bolingbrook police said. Five minors were detained, and each was cited for disorderly conduct and transportation of toy firearms. The teenagers were then released to their parents.

School activities resumed around 2:55 p.m., according to Hernandez.

"Thank you as always to our police partners for their quick action and support of our schools," Hernandez said in a message to the community.