Kent School District closes Meridian Elementary after gun incident

Kent University District officers shut Meridian Elementary University on Tuesday, Nov. 15 soon after a gun incident on Monday around the faculty resulted in no arrest.

“Meridian Elementary school will be shut on Nov. 15 out of an abundance of warning,” in accordance to a shorter article on the school’s web-site Tuesday.

The put up made no mention of the factors for closing the college at 25621 140th Ave. SE on the East Hill.

But on Monday, Kent Police launched a statement that the university went into lockdown immediately after officers responded to a report of a gentleman with a gun at a household in the 25800 block of 140th Avenue SE that borders the school’s playfield. The 26-calendar year-aged male lives at the house.

Valley SWAT responded and police hostage negotiators spoke to the person in an endeavor to get him to appear out of the household, in accordance to law enforcement. At some point, a relatives member returned within to the dwelling and took the gun from the person. Police ended up instructed on a 911 get in touch with the guy had pointed the gun at a family members member but experienced not produced threats.

“Due to an abundance of warning, Meridian Elementary School was placed into lockdown all through this incident,” according to a police assertion. “The suspect under no circumstances remaining the residence, and the gun was in no way fired, but the property was around a part of their campus playfields.”

No one was wounded for the duration of the incident and no arrest was manufactured.

“The conditions of the incident did not provide the officers the authorized justification to enter the property for a group caretaking intervention, and the officers had been advised there was insufficient probable cause to enter the house for an arrest,” according to law enforcement.

Officers took custody of the rifle the man had, according to police.

Parents of Meridian Elementary learners have lots of inquiries. Quite a few posted on social media, prior to the university announcement about the closure, that they would not be sending their young children to college on Tuesday.

“I am maintaining my kids house now from Meridian elementary,” according to a single dad or mum. “I just really don’t t experience risk-free with the ending of yesterday.”

A different mum or dad agreed.

“We felt the identical way just after yesterday’s craziness and determined previous night that our young ones ended up remaining dwelling,” in accordance to the remark.

Kent Police have not nevertheless responded to thoughts from the Kent Reporter for a lot more particulars about Monday’s incident and if the section labored with faculty officials to propose that the faculty be closed on Tuesday.

Apart from the school closure, Kent University District officials have not produced any other info. Kent Police also have not launched any other info due to the fact Monday’s statement.