Warren Township High School administrators released updated information involving the capture of two men by federal agents at the O’Plaine Campus early Thursday morning.
In an afternoon message to parents posted on Warren Township High School District 121’s Facebook page, Superintendent Dr. Daniel Woestman said federal agents were at the O’Plaine Campus at 500 N. O’Plaine Road for three minutes because of an off-campus incident between federal agents and adults.
The message came after Gurnee Public Information Officer Shawn Gaylor said in a statement at 11 a.m. that the Gurnee Police Department was notified of an incident involving federal law enforcement agencies in pursuit of a vehicle occupied by individuals who had been previously deported for felony offenses.
According to information provided by federal agents, the suspects were wanted by federal authorities, Gaylor said. She added that there was a pursuit outside of Gurnee that involved multiple crashes in neighboring jurisdictions before entering the village limits.
At approximately 8:21 a.m., the fleeing suspect vehicle was traveling at an extremely high rate of speed westbound on Grand Avenue when it lost a tire near the intersection of Grand Avenue and First Street.
The detached tire struck a vehicle traveling eastbound on Grand Avenue, Gaylor said.
The suspect vehicle continued westbound on Grand Avenue before turning south onto O’Plaine Road, near the entrance to Warren Township High School’s O’Plaine Campus.
The occupants of the fleeing vehicle exited the car and ran toward the high school, Gaylor said.
One suspect entered the school and was immediately detained by federal agents, Gaylor said.
The second suspect was also quickly taken into custody outside of the school, Gaylor said.
In the new detailed message to parents, Woestman reiterated the statement released earlier Thursday by police, before releasing a detailed timeline of what happened at the O’Plaine Campus building.
Woestman said multiple students began exiting an exterior classroom door to walk to another classroom at the O’Plaine Campus when a black truck pursued by federal agents in multiple automobiles pulled into the northeast parking lot.
Woestman said a student was in the crosswalk when the truck pulled in, but moved safely out of the way of the oncoming vehicles.
Seconds later, the black truck stopped, and the as-yet unidentified suspects exited, Woestman said. The suspects then turned and ran westbound through the O’Plaine north entrance underpass.
Woestman said multiple agents – several of whom were masked – exited their automobiles seconds later and pursued the two suspects.
At 8:18:30 a.m., the first suspect trips, falls, and is apprehended by agents in the parking lot west of the underpass. The second suspect continued running west through the parking lot, Woestman said.
The second suspect ran up the ramp to the exterior door while students were actively walking between classrooms, Woestman said.
The second suspect runs through the door as students are actively exiting, followed by two masked agents, Woestman said.
As the first suspect is led away and into a vehicle at 8:19 a.m., Woestman said, the two agents pursuing the second subject emerge out of the exterior door with the second suspect in handcuffs.
The second suspect is placed inside an automobile, Woestman said, but not before the agent pointed pepper spray at people who had gathered nearby.
All agents began exiting the campus with both suspects in custody seconds later, Woestman said.
Woestman added he has spoken with border patrol officials, who confirmed the felony offenses of the individuals who were pursued.
To quell rising rumors in the community, Woestman said in his statement that he wanted family members to know, “Federal agents did not come to our school for a student-related issue or concern, no students were apprehended, the two suspects taken into custody are not connected to Warren Township High School District 121.”
He also added, “This was very difficult for many of our staff and students. Please keep those individuals and their families in your thoughts and prayers today.”
Staff members worked with a Gurnee Police Department School Resource Officer at the O’Plaine Campus to ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors, he said.
According to the district website, the O’Plaine Campus generally houses 9th and 10th-grade students.
Gaylor said the Gurnee Police did not take part in the incident involving the border agents. Under the Illinois Trust Act, the Gurnee Police Department is prohibited from assisting, supporting, or participating in the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws, she added.
She added that the situation was resolved quickly, and a lockdown of the school was not required.
Gaylor said the Gurnee Police Department understands that developing situations of this nature can be alarming to students, staff, and parents. Fortunately, no injuries were reported for anyone on campus or to motorists in the area, she added.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to the Warren Township High School staff, students, and parents for their cooperation and patience throughout the incident,” Gaylor said.
Video obtained by the Lake & McHenry County Scanner and posted online shows the federal agents taking the two individuals into custody in the parking lot and shoving them into the back of two separate white SUVs.
That video also shows one of the agents pointing pepper spray at people gathering around.
“I am very grateful for the staff who acted immediately in the best interest of students,” Woestman said.
“WTHS takes these situations very seriously. If you would like to read more about our protocols to protect our students, and/or other resources, we have that available on our website,” Woestman’s statement says.