Another juvenile taken into custody for making threats at Austin High School

Published 10:13 am Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Austin police stand outside Austin High School Tuesday after taking a juvenile into custody for making threats. - Jason Schoonover/Albert Lea Tribune

Austin police stand outside Austin High School Tuesday after taking a juvenile into custody for making threats. – Jason Schoonover/Albert Lea Tribune

AUSTIN — Another juvenile was taken into custody Tuesday for making threats at Austin High School, and Police Chief Brian Krueger confirmed the incident was tied to a large fight between several students outside the school Monday afternoon.

Police took a juvenile into custody after 2 p.m., and Krueger said the juvenile would likely be transported to Many Rivers Juvenile Treatment Center in Rochester.

Krueger said his department is still investigating Monday’s fight. Along with school surveillance, the department received videos from members of the public. Some videos have been circulating online on Facebook and Youtube.

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“They’re still gathering intel,” Krueger said.

Austin police and Mower County deputies responded to AHS around 3:15 p.m. Monday after reports of a fight and a report of a suspect with a gun near the school’s west entrance.

The school went into lockdown from 3:23 to 4:02 p.m., and Pacelli Catholic School and Mayo Clinic Health System were also briefly locked down. Though witnesses reported one person had a gun, no gun was ever found. Police searched the area and found a set of black, shiny nun-chucks on the roof of the high school annex, which officers believe a suspect threw there when being chased.

A 17-year-old male and a 14-year-old female were taken into custody and later released Monday.

The school took several precaution measures on Tuesday in an effort to prevent another incident, and Austin Public Schools officials confirmed many will continue through the rest of the week.

Like on Tuesday, students won’t be allowed to enter the building until 7:30 a.m. at doors No. 1 and No. 13, and they’ll be asked to show their student IDs.

There were a few changes to Homecoming events. The public is asked to enter through door No. 1 for the Homecoming coronation ceremony, which is slated for 2 p.m. Wednesday in Knowlton Auditorium.

Thursday’s student Homecoming bonfire slated for 8:30 to 10 p.m. was moved to the water tower parking lot at Wescott Field.

All athletic events will occur as scheduled.

 

— Jenae Hackensmith contributed to this report.