Shepard High School on Lockdown After Report of Weapon on Campus

A suburban high school was locked down for nearly three hours Monday afternoon after reports of a possible weapon on the campus or on a school bus.

Shepard High School, located at 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave. in Palos Heights, was placed on lockdown just after 12:30 p.m., school officials said.

“We have just received information of a possible weapon on the Shepard High School campus or possibly on one of the school buses,” Community High School District 218 said in a release. "School administration and school security are working closely with Cook County Sheriff Officers to investigate this possibility."

At 3 p.m., the school said no weapon had been found and students were being released room by room to the school's gymnasium, where they would then be released to go home.

The school said normal bus routes would run but all after-school events were canceled Monday.

"Cook County police will do a thorough search of the building with the help of the Cook County Canine Unit to ensure the building is safe for school tomorrow," the school said in a statement.

During the lockdown, school officials said no one, including parents or guardians, would be allowed on the campus or in the building. Students were told to remain in their current location and were not allowed to leave or enter the campus, school officials said.