A report of a man armed with an “assault rifle” on Great Lakes Naval Base prompted schools to go on lockdown and a large police response in North Chicago Thursday.
The North Chicago Police Department responded around 10:57 a.m. Thursday to Forrestal Village off of Green Bay Road, which is a housing community for families and members of Great Lakes Naval Base.
North Chicago Police Department Management Analyst Freddrick Diez told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that officers received a call for a male subject who was carrying a large backpack and an assault rifle.
The report was in close proximity to Forrestal Elementary School, 2833 Washington Avenue in North Chicago.
The Waukegan Police Department, Lake Bluff Police Department and U.S. Veteran Affairs Police Department responded to assist North Chicago police with the incident.
Officers set up a perimeter and a police drone to conduct a search of the area, Diez said.
Forrestal Elementary School along with Lake Bluff Elementary School, which is a mile south, were put on lockdown.
“Due to a potential threat in a neighboring community, LBES is currently on soft lockdown,” Lake Bluff Elementary School Principal Kellie Bae said in a message to parents.
Bae said no one was allowed to go outside or would be allowed into the building until further notice.
Diez said the incident went on for a couple of hours until the subject was eventually located in the 1800 block of Pennsylvania Avenue.
Officers approached and made contact with the man. It was learned he was a service member and was carrying a replica rifle for training, Diez said.
The lockdowns were lifted after the all-clear was given.