Post navigation

Prev: (12/04/09) | Next: (12/04/09)

Update on armed man arrested on Belmont, lockdown at Lowell Elementary

A follow-up on the news we reported Wednesday of the armed man hauled in by SPD after a 911 caller reported him walking down Belmont Ave with a handgun in one hand and a knife in the other.

SPS send out robocalls to parents saying at no time was anyone in direct danger. My son said there were unidentified helicopters circling the playfield, and the kids were told to take cover under the tables.

CHS talked to Seattle Public Schools spokesperson David Tucker about the situation. Tucker tells CHS that school principal made the decision to go into “shelter in place” mode after being notified by SPD about the report of the armed man near Belmont and Thomas. Tucker said that in “shelter in place” status, the school’s exterior is secured with only one entry/exit available while instruction continues inside the classrooms. Tucker said there was no direct threat made against the school and the action was part of a standard response to this kind of situation.

Lowell Elementary is located at Mercer and 11th Ave, under a mile away from where the man was spotted and arrested.

A SPD spokesperson said the decision to initiate a security response at Lowell was the responsibility of school officials but that SPD does inform schools of potentially dangerous situations.

We have no additional information on the man arrested. A report from SPD will be available in coming days.

Subscribe and support CHS Contributors -- $1/$5/$10 per month

1 Comment
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
juliew
juliew
14 years ago

Glad the Lowell Principal called for a “shelter in place” – it was appropriate and also good practice for the 500 kids and staff in case a more serious threat. Kids were only under the tables very briefly according to my 4th grader — who found the incident exciting rather than scary so the staff must have done a good job.