Shooting At East Kentwood High School Raised Lockdown Alarm For Safety Reasons

May 2024 · 2 minute read

In a chilling turn of events, a drive-by shooting occurred near East Kentwood High School in Kentwood, Michigan, prompting the school to take immediate safety measures. The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon, close to the intersection of 60th and Kalamazoo Avenue. Although no one was struck, the event has led to an ongoing investigation by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office.

East Kentwood High School, along with the Freshman Campus and Pinewood Middle School, swiftly initiated a lockdown as a precautionary measure. Superintendent Kevin Polston stressed that while the incident was not directly related to the district, the safety of students and staff was paramount.

The lockdown lasted for about five minutes towards the end of the school day. As more details about the incident came to light, the schools transitioned to secure mode, allowing students and staff to resume their activities within the safety of the building.

In a letter sent home to families, Superintendent Polston explained, “At no time was there a direct threat to our buildings or our campus. Our priority is always the safety of our students, and so working together with law enforcement, we took steps to make sure that everyone remained secure inside buildings on the East Kentwood campus”.

The shooting incident, which resulted in one car being hit, happened during the school’s dismissal period. Once law enforcement gave the all-clear, the shelter-in-place protocol was lifted, and daily activities, including school dismissal, resumed.

This unsettling event underscores the importance of swift action and effective communication in ensuring the safety of our school communities. Our thoughts are with all those affected, and we commend the quick response by the East Kentwood High School and local law enforcement.

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