14-Year-Old Brought Gun To West Suburban High School: Police

YORKVILLE, IL — A 14-year-old was taken into custody and charged with multiple offenses after bringing a gun to school on Tuesday in Yorkville, according to police.

Students alerted staff shortly after 1 p.m. at the Yorkville High School Academy in the 700 block of Game Farm Road that a student might be in possession of a loaded handgun, police said. A staffer immediately separated and secured the student, and sought assistance from police and school security, according to authorities, who said that the teen had the loaded gun in a backpack.

The Yorkville High School Academy and Yorkville High School were put on lockdown, the student was taken into custody and the gun was secured, police said. After the teen was removed from campus, the lockdown was reduced to secure status, with officers and staff staying on scene to ensure a safe dismissal, according to police.

“Currently, our investigation indicates that the incident was isolated,” Yorkville police said in a news release. “We have not identified any evidence of other students being involved, nor have we identified a specific threat directed at other students.”

The teen was taken to the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center and charged with six counts of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon as well as one count each of unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of a stolen gun and obstructing an officer, police said.

Superintendent Matt Zediker in a message to families described the incident as “a report of a potential threat.”

“Through immediate intervention and coordination, the student responsible for making the threat was quickly identified and located,” Zediker said.

Police in the news release acknowledged the courage of the students who spoke up about what they saw.

“Their decision to report their concerns allowed school personnel and law enforcement to respond promptly,” police said.

“Today's outcome is a testament to the importance of speaking up, taking concerns seriously, and working together to protect our schools. We are grateful to everyone whose actions contributed to the safe resolution of this incident.”