hilljack22
Member
update from this morning
Update...
http://www.indystar.com/articles/9/230020-7909-102.html
Center Grove lifts school restrictions after police probe
By Diana Penner
[email protected]
March 18, 2005
GREENWOOD, Ind. -- Center Grove schoolchildren will be able to go outside for recess again today.
School officials Thursday lifted a lockdown of nine Center Grove schools after law enforcement officials determined there was no threat connected to reports of an unidentified man with a gun in the woods near West Grove Elementary on Tuesday.
"My feeling is, they can't really overreact," said Sam Gorall, whose home is on a cul-de-sac separated from the school by the woods where the man was reportedly seen.
His son is a first-grader at West Grove and was outside with other children Tuesday when one of them saw the man. His son saw the man, too, but not a gun, said Gorall, who also has a 13-year-old stepson at the middle school.
The trick for parents, he said, is conveying concern to children without panicking them.
"We told them the whole thing probably is nothing. It probably wasn't a big deal. There's a possibility he didn't even have a gun," Gorall said. "But if you see somebody like that, go the other way."
All schools in the district were battened down Wednesday and Thursday. West Grove was placed on lockdown starting Tuesday.
Law enforcement officials said a man who lives near the school had recently purchased about $6,000 in firearms, apparently all legally. He was deemed not to be a threat and cooperated with law enforcement by letting the weapons be moved to the home of a relative.
Police did not release his name.
Most residents seemed to support the district's conservative approach.
Around the corner and down the street from Gorall's house, three mothers discussed the episode as their younger children cavorted outside on play equipment in their back yards.
"You've got to check it out, in this day and age," said Kerri Edwards, who has a 4-year-old.
Wakefield subdivision neighbors Christina Harper, who has a stepson at the middle school and a second at Center Grove High School, and Kristi Leiter, with a second-grader and a younger child not yet in school, also supported the cautious approach.
Law enforcement officials checked out the man who made the recent gun purchases after receiving a tip. They went to his home to interview him, said Johnson County Sheriff's Col. Doug Cox. The man lives near the school and owns camouflage clothing but denied being in the woods, Cox said.
Cox said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is double-checking the man's purchase records.
He said police were mindful of the fatal shooting of an Indianapolis police officer in August by a mentally unstable man who had legally bought several assault-style weapons.
"Even if he wasn't at the school, we want to take a close look at him," Cox said
The man, a gun enthusiast, surrendered several guns to his sister for safekeeping and has cooperated with sheriff's investigators, said Maj. Steve Byerly.
"He understands community concerns raised by his recent gun purchases."
Parents picking up their children about 11:30 a.m. Thursday at West Grove Elementary said they were not afraid for their children's safety but supported the lockdown.
"I'm pleased," said Laura Johnson, 35, as she picked up daughter Skylar, 5, in front of the school. "It shows they care about our children."
Star reporters Paul Bird, Bill Booher, Jon Murray and John Tuohy contributed to this story.
Its for the children...
Update...
http://www.indystar.com/articles/9/230020-7909-102.html
Center Grove lifts school restrictions after police probe
By Diana Penner
[email protected]
March 18, 2005
GREENWOOD, Ind. -- Center Grove schoolchildren will be able to go outside for recess again today.
School officials Thursday lifted a lockdown of nine Center Grove schools after law enforcement officials determined there was no threat connected to reports of an unidentified man with a gun in the woods near West Grove Elementary on Tuesday.
"My feeling is, they can't really overreact," said Sam Gorall, whose home is on a cul-de-sac separated from the school by the woods where the man was reportedly seen.
His son is a first-grader at West Grove and was outside with other children Tuesday when one of them saw the man. His son saw the man, too, but not a gun, said Gorall, who also has a 13-year-old stepson at the middle school.
The trick for parents, he said, is conveying concern to children without panicking them.
"We told them the whole thing probably is nothing. It probably wasn't a big deal. There's a possibility he didn't even have a gun," Gorall said. "But if you see somebody like that, go the other way."
All schools in the district were battened down Wednesday and Thursday. West Grove was placed on lockdown starting Tuesday.
Law enforcement officials said a man who lives near the school had recently purchased about $6,000 in firearms, apparently all legally. He was deemed not to be a threat and cooperated with law enforcement by letting the weapons be moved to the home of a relative.
Police did not release his name.
Most residents seemed to support the district's conservative approach.
Around the corner and down the street from Gorall's house, three mothers discussed the episode as their younger children cavorted outside on play equipment in their back yards.
"You've got to check it out, in this day and age," said Kerri Edwards, who has a 4-year-old.
Wakefield subdivision neighbors Christina Harper, who has a stepson at the middle school and a second at Center Grove High School, and Kristi Leiter, with a second-grader and a younger child not yet in school, also supported the cautious approach.
Law enforcement officials checked out the man who made the recent gun purchases after receiving a tip. They went to his home to interview him, said Johnson County Sheriff's Col. Doug Cox. The man lives near the school and owns camouflage clothing but denied being in the woods, Cox said.
Cox said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is double-checking the man's purchase records.
He said police were mindful of the fatal shooting of an Indianapolis police officer in August by a mentally unstable man who had legally bought several assault-style weapons.
"Even if he wasn't at the school, we want to take a close look at him," Cox said
The man, a gun enthusiast, surrendered several guns to his sister for safekeeping and has cooperated with sheriff's investigators, said Maj. Steve Byerly.
"He understands community concerns raised by his recent gun purchases."
Parents picking up their children about 11:30 a.m. Thursday at West Grove Elementary said they were not afraid for their children's safety but supported the lockdown.
"I'm pleased," said Laura Johnson, 35, as she picked up daughter Skylar, 5, in front of the school. "It shows they care about our children."
Star reporters Paul Bird, Bill Booher, Jon Murray and John Tuohy contributed to this story.
Its for the children...
:banghead:
butt look big was, ummmm, uh, ...
