BB gun causes false alarm
Officials are now reporting the 19-year-old suspected of carrying a concealed weapon near West Middle School was carrying a BB gun and “had no intent to harm anyone.”
The staff member reported seeing the man carrying a “long gun” in a wooded area near the schools.
According to Washtenaw County Sheriff’s spokesman Derrick Jackson, no charges will be filed.
The 19-year-old was walking to his friend’s house to shoot BB guns, according to Jackson.
Authorities followed footprints in the snow to a house, where they found the teen and his friend.
Jackson told various media outlets that the young man and his friend were “terrified,” but they fully cooperated with authorities.
Five Ypsilanti schools were on lockdown early Tuesday morning. No one, including staff and administration, was allowed to leave the premises.
The lockdown lasted for two hours and affected Estabrook Elementary School, Chapelle Elementary School, the Regional Career Technical Center, Ypsilanti High School, West Middle School and the Central Administration building.
Emma Jackson, spokeswoman for Ypsilanti Public Schools, said more than 2,000 students were affected by the lockdown.