On the morning of April 11, District 117 officials conducted a routine canine scent search in the Antioch Community High School parking lot when the canine team showed interest in a car associated with an ACHS student. After following protocol, the administration assisted the Antioch Police with the search of a vehicle and identified a handgun in the vehicle’s center console. At 12:52 p.m., the District 117 community was notified about the event.

Following the discovery of the handgun, ACHS resource officer, Officer Kourtney Nemec immediately secured the weapon and took the student into custody. Currently, there is no indication that there was any threat to students or ACHS or that the student intended to harm anyone. 

After police conducted a preliminary assessment of the student, it was determined that a lockdown was unnecessary. The student is currently in custody at the Antioch Police Department as an investigation is underway. A Facebook post by the Village of Antioch Police Department stated that the student is a 21-year-old male part-time student who participates in an alternative schooling program and notes that the search was not a result of a threat.

In the same Facebook post, Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow recognized the district’s commitment to ensuring students’ safety and using routine canine scent search teams, noting the effectiveness.

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Feucht wrote in an email to the community that “the safety of our students and staff is always our highest priority, and we will always work proactively to maintain safety and communicate transparently with families.”

This is an active investigation, the Antioch Police Department will update the community as it progresses, and the department will remain on campus until the investigation proves there is no threat to campus safety.

All information mentioned above is current at the time posted. Updates will be added as more information is released.