Lincoln Police and Belmont Elementary administration quickly and safely handle security incident at school

September 5, 2024

Press conference at 4:40 p.m. on Thursday, September 5, 2024

 

Lincoln Police were called to Belmont Elementary School to assist with a security incident. 

Here is a timeline of events as reported through the initial investigation:

• It was reported to staff shortly after 12:30 p.m. that a student showed other students what they thought was a toy gun.
• Teachers and administrators immediately searched and interviewed the student, but nothing was found. They then searched all the areas the student had been, and nothing was found.
• At approximately 1:25 p.m., another student found what appeared to be a handgun hidden in the restroom and gave it to a staff member.  The staff member with the help of an administrator secured the item in the office. 
• The Standard Response Protocol of Hold was used to keep students in their classrooms and hallways cleared.
• Lincoln Police were called immediately while administrators and staff began searching the school for any other potential concerns.
• Through the Police investigation, it was determined that the item was a real, non-functional handgun without ammunition.
• The student who brought the item was identified and their family has been contacted. 
• Once the investigation is complete, any student involved in bringing or concealing the handgun will face the appropriate school and legal consequences.
• We are cooperating with Lincoln Police while they continue their investigation, and we will continue to work with Lincoln Police and Lincoln Public Schools Security to ensure a safe learning environment for everyone at Belmont.

Belmont Assistant Principal Amy Dixon wrote to families in an email:

“Families, we know this is concerning news to hear. We are very proud of the students who reported the safety concern to staff when they felt unsafe. It is the important work of our staff at Belmont in building trusting relationships with our students that lead to this serious situation being resolved without anyone being hurt. We are thankful for the quick response by Lincoln Police and their continued collaboration in keeping our students and staff safe.”

Lincoln Public Schools wants to remind everyone that school safety takes a community and they need your help: 

• Please remind your student to tell a trusted adult immediately if they see or hear something that makes them feel unsafe. They can tell a trusted adult at home or school, or they can report it using the green “Safe to Say” button on the LPS website.
• Have a conversation with your child about the dangers of handling weapons without adult permission or supervision. Lincoln Public Schools is taking this opportunity to remind families the importance of keeping all weapons and ammunition safely away from children and adolescents to prevent intentional and unintentional harm. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that the most reliable and effective measure to prevent injuries in children and adolescents is an absence of weapons. Safe weapon storage reduces a child’s risk of injury.

If any student needs extra support at school in processing what happened, please contact your child’s school and staff will connect them with a caring adult at school.

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