‘Small, Black Object' Prompts Lockdown of Suburban School

A southwest suburban Chicago high school was placed on lockdown Friday morning after a parent reported seeing a “small black object” in the hand of a student walking into the school, police said. 

At 8:45 a.m., more than 100 students at Lincoln-Way Central in New Lenox were being held outside by police as Will County Sherriff’s officers pulled surveillance tapes to identify what the object was. 

“It has not been confirmed whether it’s been a cell phone or weapon,” according to the Will County Sheriff’s office. 

One parent, Dianna Barnett Heddins-Ingram, told NBC 5 she was trying to take her daughter to school when they were surprised to pull up and see dozens of squad cars with their lights on. When they arrived, Heddins-Ingram said the officers had vests on and told her and her daughter it was “a good idea to just go home.” 

“It's disgusting when you can't even take your child to school without fear,” she said. 

By 10:30 a.m. police confirmed the lockdown was lifted and all of the students were unharmed and sent home. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

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