Chicago Police Prevent Potential School Shooting at Foreman College and Career Academy
CHICAGO — Chicago police officers may have stopped a tragedy from unfolding at a Northwest Side high school on Friday afternoon. A troubled student who threatened to shoot up the school as he left campus was arrested by cops who allegedly saw him ditch a loaded firearm directly outside the school grounds.
Officials at Foreman College and Career Academy, located at 3235 North Leclaire, notified police at around 1:50 p.m. that a 17-year-old student had left in an Uber, indicating he was going to return with an AR-15 to carry out a shooting at the school.
Law enforcement responded swiftly, with officers visiting the boy’s home while others headed to the school. At approximately 2:03 p.m., an officer spotted the boy walking in the 5000 block of West Belmont, near the school’s athletic field. The officer observed the boy discard something beneath a nearby vehicle.
The boy attempted to flee but was apprehended by the police. A fully loaded Ruger 9-millimeter handgun was recovered from under the vehicle. The CPD spokesperson confirmed that the 17-year-old boy was arrested on several charges, including possessing a stolen firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm near a high school, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon by a person younger than 21, and threatening a school.
Two hours post the arrest, Foreman Principal Jason Roberts sent an email to the school community, addressing the incident without divulging specific details regarding the threat. He assured parents of the safety measures in place and urged them to reach out if their child needed additional support.
Dear Foreman Families,
Safety is always my top priority, which is why I am writing to notify you of an incident that occurred at school today. This afternoon, a member of our school community used threatening language, left school, and returned to campus soon after. Out of an abundance of caution, we notified the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the CPS Office of Safety and Security for further support, and our community member was not allowed to re-enter our building. No one was injured. While I cannot provide additional details for privacy reasons, I can share that we are working closely with CPS and CPD to investigate this situation further. CPD will also continue to support our arrival and dismissal next week.
Please know that we take situations like this extremely seriously to ensure the safety of our school community. If your child has voiced any fears or concerns about what occurred, please let us know so we can provide them with extra support. We will continue striving to provide all students with a safe, supportive school environment. If you have any questions, please contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Principal Roberts
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