Threat spurs Lehi High lockdown

LEHI — As parents waited nervously outside, police searched Lehi High School for a student who reportedly brought a gun to school on Thursday.

The school was placed on "lockdown status," meaning no one was allowed to enter or leave the school, for two hours while SWAT teams went room to room looking for the girl, who had fled the school with the gun before police could take her into custody.

Officials say the incident began when at least one student called a parent to report seeing a girl with a gun at the school, 180 N. 500 East. The call was made at 11:50 a.m., just before a lunch period.

Alpine School District spokeswoman Jerrilyn Mortensen said the parents called the school's office to report the gun sighting. Police were then alerted and administrators put a safety plan into action.

"We were sitting in class and then all of a sudden they came over the intercom and said 'Teachers lock your doors,' " said Amberlie Holley, a junior.

Although there was some confusion whether the instruction was part of a drill, all students were soon contained and corralled in the centers of their classrooms. When the SWAT teams arrived with guns drawn, it became clear the exercise was no drill.

Lehi Police Lt. Darren Paul said SWAT teams sought the identity of the girl by examining school records and searching classrooms. The girl was said to be depressed, he said, and police feared the gun was going to be used in a suicide attempt.

"A SWAT team came into our room and they just walked by and didn't say anything to our teacher," Holley said. "They had huge guns, and they walked by and pointed at all of the brunettes and said 'What's your name? What's your name? What's your name?' All of us would say our name, and they wouldn't say anything. They'd just walk on."

While SWAT teams searched the school, police received another report that the girl had fled the school before the lockdown and was at a fellow student's house.

At about 2 p.m., when police determined the girl wasn't in the school, police lifted the lockdown, and students were released from school 15 minutes early.

The gun was recovered at the friend's house. The girl's parents were able to find the girl and took her to the police station for questioning.

While parents waited outside, wondering what was happening on the inside, some took advantage of their cell phones as a way to stay in touch.

"My daughter text messaged me, she said 'We're in a lockdown; they won't tell us anything. Help me, I'm scared,' " said Dave Burak, parent of a Lehi student.

Burak said he called the principal's office to find out what was happening within the school, but he was told repeatedly it was just a drill. Concerned, he left work in Springville and "flew" to the school.

Still shaking from being so worried, Burak said he was glad it was all over.

"I didn't know what to expect driving up here," Barak said. "But I'm totally relieved. I appreciate that they kept them safe. That's a good outcome. Things came out OK in the end. "

---

E-mail: achoate@desnews.com