Hoffman Estates school lift lockdown after police arrest armed suspect

A Hoffman Estates day care was evacuated and two schools put on soft lockdown this morning after police received a report of a suicidal man possibly armed with a gun.

No one was hurt during the confrontation, which started about 7:50 a.m. when police responded to a business on the 2300 block of Hassell Road.

Hoffman Estates police Sgt. Gregory Poulos said the man, whose identity isn’t being released, made claims he was going to use a firearm and that he wanted to force police to kill him.

Officers cordoned off the area and surrounded the building while working with family members to make contact with the subject, who came out peacefully about 9:08 a.m., Poulos said.

The man, who owns the business where the standoff took place, was transported to an area hospital for a mental evaluation and won’t be charged since no handgun was found at the scene.

The Small World Children’s Center, located on the same block, was evacuated and John Muir and MacArthur schools went on soft lockdown for about an hour.

Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 spokeswoman Terri McHugh said the soft lockdown meant the schools operated as usual, but students still arriving were immediately escorted inside and had to remain indoors for physical education and recess.

John Muir School Principal Brad Carter sent an e-mail to parents stating the school practiced lockdown procedures with staff and students just last month.