Seattle police and school officials are investigating after a student was reportedly seen with a firearm Thursday at Ballard High School.
Officers and a SWAT team responded to the school and quickly located the student off campus. Officers took the teenage male into custody, but were not immediately able to locate a firearm.
Out of an abundance of caution, police have evacuated the school and are searching the campus to ensure the safety of students and faculty.
Update: Police escorted students to the high school’s gymnasium as officers searched the campus to ensure the suspect had not hidden a firearm someone in the building. SPD Chief Kathleen O’Toole and BHS Principal Keven Wynkoop met with students (pictured below) to discuss the day’s events and reassure them that police were conducting a search as a precautionary measure.
Update x2; As of 3 PM, police and school officials have released students for the day.