Bullet found at Matthews Middle School in Island Lake
Island Lake police on Wednesday continued investigating how a 9 mm bullet wound up in a Matthews Middle School hallway.
The live bullet was discovered by a student about 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, prompting a temporary lockdown at the school, 3500 Darrell Road.
An unspecified number of juveniles were believed to be involved in the matter, police Chief Don Bero said Wednesday. No charges have been filed, nor was anyone in custody Wednesday, he said.
Bero offered no other information about the case.
Wauconda Unit District 118 Superintendent Dan Coles confirmed that officials have "some juvenile suspects in mind."
Authorities searched lockers and reviewed security video as part of the investigation, Coles said.
Normal activity resumed about 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, Coles said.
Guns and ammunition have been found at Matthews Middle School two other times in recent years.
A 9 mm bullet was discovered in a hallway in November 2013.
And a student was arrested in March 2012 after bringing a loaded handgun to school. The student's father was arrested and charged months later.
Authorities aren't sure if Tuesday's discovery was related to the 2013 case.
"We're still looking at that," Coles said. "Obviously, it does come to mind that this could be a copycat situation."
The cases indicate people aren't properly securing firearms and ammunition, Coles said.
"I think that is a nationwide problem," he said.