3 Springfield area high schools in Illinois placed on lockdown after shooting threats

Zach Roth, State Journal-Register
·2 min read

Three high schools – two in Christian County, one in Macoupin County – were placed on lockdown over the past two days following reports of shooting threats.

A Taylorville High School student was arrested Thursday after a shooting threat was posted in a bathroom at the school. It was the second time in as many days that a Christian County school needed to be placed on lockdown after a threat.

The Taylorville Police Department said officers were called to THS at 9:27 a.m. after reports of an active shooter threat.

A student, Payton Chronister, 18, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. He is currently being held at the Christian County Jail and will appear in court Friday morning.

In a release, Taylorville police said Chronister observed the note in the bathroom and told staff. Police said Chronister wrote the note.

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THS was placed on lockdown following the incident and resumed classes shortly after Chronister was taken into custody.

In Macoupin County, North Mac High School in Virden was placed on lockdown Thursday after a student posted a note regarding a potential shooting.

The Macoupin County Sheriff's Office said Virden police received a call at 9:46 a.m. from the school reporting the note. The building was soon placed on a full lockdown as police investigated and found nothing to indicate active shooter activity.

Virden police are continuing to investigate with help from the sheriff's office.

The incidents in Taylorville and Virden come one day after Pana schools were placed on lockdown following a shooting threat.

Students at Pana High School were transported to two area churches in order for safe pickup as a response to the threat. School activities continued as normal Thursday, although the school was placed on soft lockdown in the morning due to continued investigation by Pana police.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: 3 Illinois high schools placed on lockdown for shooting threats