San Antonio elementary placed on secure status on first day of school
Update: 12:49 p.m., Wednesday, August 10: North East Independent School District said its elementary school was placed in secure status during the incident nearby where a man pointed what was believed to be a gun at two different people. San Antonio Police Department initially said Oak Grove Elementary School was placed on lockdown.
According to the district, a school is placed under secure status when there is criminal activity in the area. Students and staff are brought inside. No going in or out. Inside the school, it will be business as usual, but situational awareness should be higher. The doors also stay locked.
Original story:
A San Antonio elementary school was placed on temporary lockdown on its first day of school after an incident with a fake gun took place nearby on the city’s Northeast Side on Wednesday, August 10, according to the San Antonio Police Department. The lockdown has now been lifted.
Jennifer Rodriguez, public information officer for SAPD, said police responded to a call of a man with a gun around 10 a.m. in the 3000 block of Nacogdoches Road, near Oak Ledge Drive and East Bitters Road. Officials placed Oak Grove Elementary School with North East Independent School District on lockdown while police assessed the situation. North East ISD started its first day of school on Wednesday.
A woman told police that a man, possibly in his 20s, pointed what was believed to be a gun at the time at her. He made no demands, she told police. The man then fled the apartment complex in the area to a nearby gas station, Rodriguez said. He then pointed the reported gun at the clerk inside the gas station.
The clerk was able to get away as police surrounded the gas station with the man inside alone. After 10 minutes, the man surrendered peacefully and was taken into custody for a mental health evaluation, Rodriguez said. The weapon that at first was believed to be a real gun turned out to be fake, she added.
Nobody was injured and the lockdown was lifted as the area is deemed safe, Rodriguez said. The case is still under investigation and charges could be pending, according to Rodriguez.
