'Small, Black Object' Prompts Lockdown at Lincoln-Way Central

UPDATE, 10:32 a.m.

NEW LENOX, IL — A soft lockdown at Lincoln-Way Central has been lifted as of 10:30 a.m. The school was in hard lockdown, then soft, Friday morning due to concern over a "small, black object" a parent spotted in a student's hand as he or she was walking near the school. Will County Sheriff's police continue to review surveillance footage to identify the object.

The situation began just before 8 a.m., when a parent placed a non-emergency call to New Lenox Police, reporting a person with an "unidentified object" walking eastbound on U.S. 30. As of 8:45 a.m., more than 100 students at were being held outside by police as Will County Sheriff’s officers replayed surveillance tapes to determine what the object was, NBC reports.

“It has not been confirmed whether it’s been a cell phone or weapon,” according to the Will County Sheriff's Office.

All students were confirmed safe by 9 a.m., but the investigation is ongoing. Police are looking at cars in the area for suspicious activity, occupants, and registration, according to scanner reports.

New Lenox School District 122 was also on soft lockdown while police investigated. That soft lockdown was lifted as of 9:30 a.m.

As of 10 a.m., all police units were pulled from the school following a thorough search of the interior.

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