EUGENE, Ore. — North Eugene High School is now secure following a lockdown, requested by the Eugene Police Department.
Eugene PD says they were called after a dispute involving a group of juveniles at 2080 River Road, where one was reported to have been armed.
There were reports shots had been fired into the air.
Multiple police units responded and contacted involved individuals.
Nearby North Eugene High School was informed of the incident and recommended to take security measures as a precaution while police searched for suspects. The school was placed into lockdown.
During the incident police contacted multiple juveniles and the investigation is ongoing.
The juvenile with the reported firearm has not yet been contacted, EPD said.
The following statement was sent to NEHS families from Interim Principal Greg Borgerding:
Dear North Eugene families,
I wanted to give you an update about the safety situation at school today, involving use of our safety standard response protocols.
North Eugene will remain in SECURE protocol until normal release time at 3:30 p.m. and students are being released normally at that time. We were in LOCKDOWN and then SECURE as a precaution as police were investigating a report of possible gunfire in an area near the school; police shared that they had completed their response in the area and that they did not believe there was an ongoing threat in the area.
All after-school programs will happen as normal (track and field practice will be held inside). North Eugene High School, Kelly Middle School, Howard Elementary School and River Road/El Camino del Rio Elementary School are all on regular release times today and school buses will all operate on normal schedule. Law enforcement have agreed to remain in the North Eugene/Howard area as a precaution and reassurance to students and families.
To recap our day: around 11:45 a.m., just after a fire drill, Eugene Police notified the school that there was a report of possible gunfire in an apartment complex near campus, and recommended that North go into its LOCKDOWN standard response protocol. We remained in LOCKDOWN until transitioning to a SECURE at 1:07 p.m. We were then notified that police believed there was not a threat in the area and that normal end-of-day release could occur.
We sent an email to families just after noon through ParentSquare, providing information on the initial situation, and several follow-up messages after.
Students and staff did a great job applying our training for the standard response protocols and staying calm. To learn more about the standard response protocols of Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuation or Shelter, and how 4J schools may respond to crisis situations to support student safety, visit the I Love U Guys Foundation. We appreciate the support of students, staff and families in maintaining a safe school community.
Sincerely,
Greg Borgerding, Interim Principal
To learn more about response protocols, such as Hold, Secure, Lockdown, etc. visit the I Love You Guys Foundation.