OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — A second Ralston elementary school was put on "secure in place" this week when a person outside the school said they had been shot on Tuesday.
A construction worker was approached by an individual who came from a nearby trail saying they had been shot. First responders were called and Karen Western Elementary School went into "secure in place" status until the incident was resolved, according to Ralston Public Schools.
A school spokesman told 3 News Now that the individual wasn't shot but was taken to the hospital. More than one agency responded to the incident as the school has an Omaha address, but is part of the Ralston school system.
Below is the letter sent to families by the school principal:
Dear Karen Western Families,
Ralston Public Schools and Karen Western Elementary are committed to providing a safe learning environment for our students. As part of our Safe Schools Plan, we affirm this commitment by notifying parents of events that affect campus or community safety as we work in partnership with parents and law enforcement to support the well-being of our students.
This message is to inform you of an incident that happened this morning. An emotionally distressed individual, coming off the Papio Trail, approached two of our construction workers claiming that he had been shot at while walking along the trail. Our construction workers had the individual sit down in the parking lot, called 911, and immediately alerted our staff at Karen Western. Following our safety protocols, the school went into a lockdown situation.
Law enforcement arrived at our school right away. After a complete investigation and review of our school security camera footage, the individual’s claims were not substantiated and this person just had minor scrapes on the arms and legs. The individual was put into custody and taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.
I am so very proud of our staff and students as school safety is our number one priority. Our staff and students followed safety protocols correctly and efficiently. Ralston Public Schools and our law enforcement partners take all threatening situations seriously. At no time were our students or staff members in any danger. Around 10:30 am, we received word from law enforcement that the issue was deemed safe, and we could go on with the school day as normal.
We are committed to making Karen Western Elementary School the safest, most positive place for students to learn and grow. Please contact me if you have additional concerns about this incident. Thank you for your support of our students and school.
Sincerely,
Mr. Andrew Mather
Principal
Karen Western Elementary School
Download our apps today for all of our latest coverage.
Get the latest news and weather delivered straight to your inbox.
