No charges filed in Elburn school lockdown

Kaneland John Stewart Elementary School in Elburn was on lockdown briefly at dismissal time Friday after a school bus driver reported a suspicious person near the school.

It turns out, according to police, it was three 13-year-old boys: two of whom were handling Airsoft pellet pistols, and one who was wearing a dark blue utility vest that resembled body armor.

All were taken into custody without incident and brought to the police station for questioning, but after consultation with the Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office, police said Friday night no charges would be filed.

Authorities responded at 3:29 p.m. to initial reports of a male with a firearm and wearing body armor near the school at 817 Prairie Valley St.

Kaneland District 302 Superintendent Jeff Schuler said the school bus driver reported the incident to the district’s bus dispatcher, who reported it to police.

Principal Laura Garland said school had just let out for day, and most students had left the building or were on school buses leaving the parking lot when reports of a suspicious person surfaced. The school was immediately put on lockdown, with primarily school staff remaining.

Ten minutes later, the lockdown was lifted when police located the three 13-year-old boys two blocks south of the school in a cornfield.

Police said at no time were any students, staff, faculty or citizens in any danger.

“It worked exactly how it’s supposed to, and that’s reassuring,” Garland said.

The teens — none of whom attend Kaneland John Stewart school — were released to their parents.

Police said there would be no further investigation into the incident.

Officers from the Elburn Police Department, Kane County Sheriff’s Department and Illinois State Police responded to the scene.