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West Ottawa High School off lockdown after reports of person with weapon

The lockdown has been lifted for both buildings and police say there is no additional threat to the public.

OTTAWA COUNTY, Michigan — Update, 7/29/2021: 

West Ottawa High School's superintendent Timothy Bearden released a statement on the events around 2 p.m. 

No one was directly threatened or harmed in the incident. He revealed the suspect's weapon could be a BB gun. 

The school officials reopened the campus after police cleared the scene. 

”At West Ottawa Public Schools, the safety of our students, staff and school community is our primary concern," said Bearden. 

"We take these incidents very seriously and are grateful to school leaders and law enforcement for acting quickly and appropriately. We are continuing to gather details about this situation.”

Original Story, 7/29/2021:

West Ottawa High School was put on lockdown Thursday morning after police received reports of a subject with a weapon on campus. The kind of weapon has not been specified. 

Police say the call came in around 8:20 a.m., at which time both the North and South buildings of the school were put on lockdown while police units conducted a search.

Ottawa County Sheriff's Captain Jake Sparks confirmed with 13 ON YOUR SIDE that a summer camp was going on at the time of the threat, but the students left shortly after arriving for the day. 

Police verified that the subject left the school and has been found at a home nearby. He is currently being interviewed by investigators.

The lockdown has been lifted for both buildings and police say there is no additional threat to the public. Investigation into the incident is ongoing and police are working to determine if there are applicable criminal charges.

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