Elgin schools on brief lockdown after shooting

Two Catholic schools in Elgin were briefly placed on lockdown Wednesday while police investigated a report of shots fired, officials said.

There were no reported injuries or damage after the call came in about 11:53 a.m. regarding a shooting on the 200 block of Jewett Street, a block from St. Laurence Catholic School, Cmdr. Ana Lalley said.

St. Laurence was placed on lockdown for about an hour, Lalley said; St. Edward Central Catholic High School, about ⅓ mile away, was placed on lockdown for about 30 minutes.

"We have nothing to comment on it," said a man who answered the phone at St. Laurence.

St. Edward Interim Principal Paul Hermann said the soft lockdown started about 12:10 p.m.

"Police asked us to go into soft lockdown. I don't know all the details," he said, adding this was the first such incident at the school, which is a few blocks from the shooting.

"We have drills on this type of procedure," Hermann said. "We just tell them, 'We're in soft lockdown and you continue about your day. Nobody is leaving the building at this point.' "

Officers canvassed the area and found "evidence indicative of a shooting," Lalley said.

Anyone with any information can contact the police department's gang crimes unit at (847) 289-2974. Additionally, individuals can provide anonymous tips or information via the crime line at (847) 695-4195, or text 847411 and include ELGINPD in the beginning of the text, along with the message and/or tip.