Staff, students reported safe after lockdowns at 2 Salem schools

McKinley Elementary School, and Sprague High School were temporarily locked down Friday because of suspicious circumstances.

The Statesman Journal was informed by Salem-Keizer Public Schools Communications Officers that the two incidents weren’t related.

School district officials posted on Twitter at 1:11 p.m. McKinley Elementary School can be found at 466 McGilchrist St. SE was placed under lockdown in Salem due to “a report by a suspicious person in the area.” They posted that the lockdown had been lifted at 1:34 p.m. District officials declared all staff and students safe. Parents were notified via ParentSquare.

Treven Upkes, Salem Police Lieutenant, said that the person originally tried to enter South Salem High School. Staff witnessed a man walking towards McKinley Elementary from less than half a mile away, rattling the doors. According to him, McKinley was put under lockdown in the district.

South Salem High School families were informed of the increased security, but the school was not placed on lockdown. Upkes claimed that no one matching the description was found by police when they arrived.

District officials are then called in at 3:15 PM. posted again on TwitterOfficials stated that Sprague High School at 2373 Kuebler Blvd, Salem, was placed under lockdown because of “a report regarding suspicious activity on campus.” Officials wrote that buses were stopped during the lockdown.

At 3:30 p.m. district officials reported that the lockdown had been lifted. The posts state that all staff and students are safe. Parentsquare notified families.

Upkes claimed that in this case, a parent was picking a child up and seemed to have a gun in his car.

Both incidents received precautionary responses, he stated. The police are not investigating the incidents.

Natalie Pate is the education reporter for The Statesman Journal. You can send her questions, comments and tips at npate@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-66745 Follow her Twitter @NataliePateGwin.

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