JWP School District goes into lockdown

JWP High School went into lockdown procedure early in the afternoon on Tuesday, Jan. 10, after reports that several students received electronic “air dropped” messages and photos from an unknown student with a picture of a gun, titled, “school shooter.” 

The entire lockdown procedure, which included an evacuation of the school, spanned about four hours. Part of the normal lockdown procedure, according to Superintendent Jeremy Erler, included barricading doors and windows prior to an evacuation of the high school, classroom by classroom to a “reunification location” where parents picked up their kids. 

The student responsible for the messages remains unknown at this time.

“We’re working with the Janesville Police Department and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to identify the person responsible,” Erler told the Pioneer. “Our number one focus at JWP is to ensure the safety of our kids.

“Kids are responding appropriately for everything that went on yesterday,” Erler continued. “We have social workers meeting with students and/or staff if requested. We’re handling each situation individually.”

The investigation is still ongoing and all appropriate lockdown procedures were followed. At this time it is believed that there is no immediate threat to the school or community. The Janesville Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Minnesota BCA, Waseca County Sheriff’s Office, Waseca Police Department, New Richland Police Department and Mayo Security.