A 15-year-old student has been arrested after allegedly making a phone call threatening a school shooting at Antioch Community High School last week that prompted a large police response.
The Antioch Community High School was placed on lockdown around 1:30 p.m. Friday after the school received a voicemail of a threatening nature, according to Village of Antioch Communication Specialist Jim Moran.
A source told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the voicemail involved a shooting threat.
The Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS) was activated, sending numerous police agencies to the scene.
A complete sweep of the school was conducted and police determined there was no threat to the school or community, Moran said. Students and staff were then released.
Police also responded to every school in Antioch during the lockdown as a precaution.
Investigators quickly learned that the call originated from a cell phone inside the school, Moran said.
Detectives were able to locate the phone used to make the threat, which eventually led them to a 15-year-old juvenile.
The juvenile is an Antioch resident and a student at the high school.
The student has been charged with enhanced disorderly conduct, a Class 4 felony.
Police turned the juvenile over to the custody of the Robert W. Depke Juvenile Complex Center in Vernon Hills Monday evening.
Moran said investigators believe the juvenile acted alone and there are no other charges expected in the investigation.
Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow said the community has “zero tolerance for this type of behavior” and expects anyone charged in this situation to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“Thankfully, there was never a legitimate threat to our community,” Guttschow said.
“This bad hoax created unnecessary stress and anxiety for students and faculty at the school, their families, and the entire Antioch Community. Our detectives worked hard to make a quick arrest. I hope this shows others that justice will be served and there will be no tolerance for this type of behavior,” he added.