Lafayette Parish School System has released a statement regarding today's lockdown.
That statement is in full below:
Lafayette High was placed on lockdown around 8:55 am this morning after receiving an anonymous phone call making a threat to LHS. The LHS crisis plan went into effect. The Lafayette Police Department along with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's office were notified immediately. Law enforcement officers were dispatched to the school and took over the investigation. Students were safely monitored in their classrooms during this entire time. After the campus was secured, students were escorted to the restroom when needed. Due to the location of the cafeteria, we were unable to safely move students across campus through open areas to provide lunch. School and all activities will resume as normal tomorrow. We want to thank everyone for their cooperation and understanding during this event.
School and all activities will resume as normal tomorrow, Friday, September 27.
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Dismissal has begun at Lafayette High School following an hours-long lockdown.
LPSS says that walkers need to be picked up by a car today. All students who drive will be monitored as they get their vehicles and leave the campus.
Parents of children who take the Lafayette High bus from the David Thibodaux STEM Academy will need to get a ride home from STEM today. LPSS says that all extra-curricular events scheduled for this afternoon, Thursday, September 26, 2019 at Lafayette High School have been canceled. This includes all scheduled athletic and academic activities.
As of 4:20 p.m., students are still being picked up at Lafayette High School. Student without a ride will be housed at the Lafayette High School auditorium.
KATC's Katie Easter was on scene and showed parents still picking up their children at the designated pick up area off Susan and Foreman Drive.
Traffic is still congested in areas around the school.
Watch a live from Katie Easter below:
Lafayette High was placed onlockdown following a threat to the school at around 10:00 a.m.
Lafayette Police say there was a scheduled drill performed Thursday on campus. Following the drill, the school received a threatening phone call. Police are now investigating that threat.
The Lafayette Parish School System says that the school remained on lockdown and students are in class. Students tell KATC they stayed in the same classroom all day, and they did not get lunch.
LPSS reports that rumors of an arrest or weapons of any kind found on campus are false. Nothing has be found to indicate any immediate threat on campus. Officials say that they will update parents once the lockdown is lifted.
The school is on soft lockdown and police are no letting anyone on or off campus as they investigate. Parents are continuing to wait near the school to make contact with their children. KATC spoke with on father who has been in contact with his son, saying they have been in class for several hours and have not eaten.
The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office detained one person during the investigation, identified as an adult male. He was not detained in connection with the lockdown or threat and was later released.
A video has since surfaced on social media of a man being patted down. However, that video does not show the man being arrested.
Rumors on social media claim that the video shows a weapon being pulled from his person. The Sheriff's Office Spokesperson John Mowell says that if the person had a gun on him, he would have been arrested. He could not say what items were removed from the individual but no weapons were found.
Other rumors of the arrests of more students appeared to be from a fight that occurred during dismissal. We have reached out to LPSS for more information but have yet to hear back. At this time no arrests in connection to the lockdown have been confirmed.
A statement form the sheriff's office earlier on Thursday is below:
"The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, along with the Lafayette Police Department, is investigating a threatening phone call made toward Lafayette High School's campus. The school remains on lockdown at this time. Students will continue classes as the situation is assessed. Meanwhile, parents and all other visitors are asked to avoid the school."
The Sheriff's Office says more information will be released by the department or the Lafayette Parish School System as the investigation continues.
