UPDATE: Armed Home Invasion in Columbia Prompted School Lockdowns

COLUMBIA, MD — Police activity caused two Columbia schools to go into lockdown Friday morning. The affected schools — Atholton High School and Clemens Crossing Elementary School — returned to normal operations less than half an hour later, officials reported.

At 10:15 a.m., law enforcement responded to a reported home invasion and robbery in the 5600 block of Hawkeye Run where the residents were robbed by a pair of suspects, one of them armed, according to Howard County police spokeswoman Lori Boone.

The suspects were described as two black men in their 30s with their faces partly covered, according to Boone.

They knocked on the door, then forced their way inside and demanded money when a resident came to open it, she said. Afterward, the suspects left on foot.

While nobody was injured, police reportedly requested Atholton High School and Clemens Crossing Elementary School go into lockdown status at 10:25 a.m. as a precaution for students and staff.

By 10:40 a.m., the lockdowns were lifted and the schools resumed their activities, the principals at both schools said in a joint letter to families.

Detectives do not believe there is a threat to the community, Boone said Friday afternoon.

Anyone with information may call 410-313-STOP or email HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov.

Here is the letter the affected schools sent to families on Friday, Jan. 13:

Dear Atholton HS and Clemens Crossing ES Community,
At approximately 10:25 a.m., it was reported to us from the Howard County Police Department that there was a home invasion in our community and for our students and staff safety they requested we go into lockdown. Staff immediately secured the exterior and interior doors and we followed all lockdown procedures.
At 10:40 a.m., after communicating with the Howard County Police Department, we removed the school from the lockdown and resumed normal school operations.
Throughout the situation students and staff at both schools did an outstanding job carrying-out what we practice as a school system to prepare, prevent, and respond to emergency situations.
Sincerely,
JoAnn Hutchens, AHS Principal
Edward Cosentino, CCES Principal

Patch file photo.