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MIDVALE -- For the third time in a week, a gun at a Utah school caused panic. This time it was at Midvale Elementary school, where students were put on lock down as officials searched for the weapon.
The lockdown has now been called off, but is started Friday morning around 8:30 after two students reported seeing a man with a gun at a nearby park. With two other gun incidents at different schools in the valley this week, no one was willing taking the report lightly.
Two junior high students were walking through Midvale City Park, which is right behind Midvale Elementary, on their way to school when they saw a man get out of a black truck and reveal what they thought was a silver handgun. The two girls immediately ran into the elementary and reported to the principal what they saw, which sent the school into lockdown.
School officials say the two students did everything right in this situation--they saw what looked like a gun and reported it right away.
"According to the witnesses, he was in the park only and went another way. Never in the school grounds at all," Karen Sterling, director of Midvale Elementary, said. "They said he was holding it like it might have been a gun."
Midvale City police immediately responded to area and did a search of the school and nearby park, but found no sign of the man. They also took the girls to the park and asked them to show them where they last saw the man.
In the meantime, parents of students who attend Midvale Elementary started showing up at the school wanting to know if their children were safe. Once the all clear was given by police, several parents checked their children out of school.
Elizabeth Peguese's son attends Midvale Elementary. She said, "It's a big sigh of relief, and even though they say everything is OK, I still want him home."
School officials say the two students did everything right in this situation--they saw what looked like a gun and reported it right away. Midvale Police agree and say they are going to take every report like this seriously, regardless of who it comes from.
Midvale City police Sgt. Chad Egan said, "We're going to handle it the same way every time, because you never know when that time is going to be the bad time."
Midvale Police say they have searched the area thoroughly and feel it is safe.
E-mail: spark@ksl.com
