Staff members accidentally activated an active shooter alarm at an elementary school in Round Lake, prompting an emergency response from the fire department and police department.
The Round Lake Police Department and Greater Round Lake Fire Protection District, along with multiple other fire departments, responded around 1:20 p.m. Wednesday to Park Campus, 400 West Townline Road in Round Lake, for a report of an active shooter.
Round Lake Police Chief David Prus said officers were notified by dispatch of a Raptor alert system alarm for an active shooter.
Officers learned it was a false alarm and occurred while the school was practicing or testing internal emergency procedures, Prus said.
It was unintentional and there was no issue. Police are working with the school to prevent the issue from happening again, Prus said.
CCSD 46 Communications Coordinator Leslie Armstrong said Wednesday was a half-day release for Park Campus students.
The elementary school’s teachers and staff were in meetings that afternoon, including training on the emergency response system.
A false alarm triggered an emergency response but it was initiated during training with only staff present, Armstrong said.
Students had been dismissed earlier that morning so families were not notified about the false alarm.
The incident happened just after a report of an armed student was made at Buffalo Grove High School.
Officers responded to the school around 11:45 a.m. and searched the building without finding anything out of the ordinary.
It is believed the report, which prompted the school to go into “secure” mode, was fake and a “swatting” call.