Kealakehe Elementary School was on lockdown for about 30 minutes Friday.
Kealakehe Elementary School was on lockdown for about 30 minutes Friday.
Students’ parents received a phone call alerting them to the lockdown, which lasted from about 12:15 to 12:45 p.m.
According to a letter school officials prepared for parents, the situation was the result of someone spotting three suspicious men, “one of whom appeared to have a gun,” walking on the sidewalk near the school. A copy of the letter was sent to West Hawaii Today anonymously.
“Police were called,” the letter stated. “All students and staff were directed to secure themselves in a classroom. Every effort was made to ensure the safety of all.”
Police did receive a report of a suspicious man who allegedly had a gun a couple of blocks from campus. Officers did checks around the area and didn’t find anything as of midafternoon Friday, said Hawaii Police Department spokeswoman Chris Loos.