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Person armed with knife arrested at Lake Shore Middle School on first day of classes

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A security incident at Lake Shore Middle School on the first day of school ended without injury after school security and police quickly detained an armed person before gaining access to campus.

Principal Latasha Clark sent a message to families informing them of the incident, which occurred just before dismissal.

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“While we had a wonderful first day of school, I want to inform you of a security incident that occurred just before dismissal,” Clark said.

According to Clark, security personnel identified an individual outside the building who was not a parent or staff member. When searched, a knife was found in the individual’s possession.

“Our School Police Department responded quickly and placed the individual under arrest without incident,” Clark said. “At no time did this person have any interaction with students or gain access to the school.”

Clark credited locked doors and controlled access points for keeping students and staff safe.

“I am grateful for the swift actions of our security personnel and for the safety measures we have in place, including locked doors and controlled access points, which helped keep our students and staff safe,” Clark said.

Despite the unsettling nature of the incident, Clark emphasized the importance of transparency with families.

“While this is not the type of message we want to send on the first day of school, I believe it is important to keep our families informed about any potential threats to student and staff safety,” Clark said.