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M/CLOUDY Temp: 46 °F Wind: NNW at 4 mph Tuesday, April 1, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend March 19, 2003 Gun report prompts lockdown By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune A report of an unidentified man carrying a rifle on a neighborhood street prompted the lockdown of two east Medford schools Tuesday morning. Nobody was injured or threatened and police made no arrests. The doors of Roosevelt Elementary School and Hedrick Middle School were unlocked a few hours after police took the initial report. "We haven’t been able to figure out who this guy was or what he was doing," said Medford Police Lt. Mike Moran. "I think it’s always better to err on the side of caution." According to Moran, a motorist driving north along Lindley Street at about 7:15 a.m. contacted police on her cell phone after seeing a white, teenage male holding what appeared to be a rifle. The teenager, estimated to be 17 years old, was reportedly wearing a hooded sweatshirt and standing near a residence, the caller told police. Within minutes, Moran said eight police officers arrived on scene to investigate and canvass the area. Though many people were interviewed, the alleged gunman was not located, Moran said. Roosevelt Principal Anne Mitchell said when the report came in, a large number of students had already gathered in the playground, waiting for attendance to be taken. Mitchell said school officials quickly brought all the students inside. "This is a walking school. There’s a lot of foot traffic," she said. "The children were very calm and cooperated well," Mitchell added. After discussing the incident with Superintendent Steve Wisely, the decision was made to place Roosevelt school in "safe building" mode, meaning all external doors were locked, Mitchell said. Following several well-publicized school shootings around the nation, the Medford School District joined many other school districts in adopting lock-down plans and other procedures to protect students in the event of any threat. At Roosevelt, signs were placed at all doors, directing visitors to use the main entrance and to knock. At about 8:20 a.m., police contacted Hedrick Middle School officials to report the situation, just as sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade students were starting their day. "Our biggest concern was not to have large groups of kids out on the lawn with a dangerous person nearby," said Hedrick Principal Marjorie Lininger. Hedrick school officials escorted students inside the building as they arrived for class. School officials on Tuesday said they planned to explain the incident to parents by sending notes home with students. Moran said there was no reason why a man would walk through a residential neighborhood with a rifle, noting most hunting seasons in Jackson County have closed. Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S