Southridge HS Placed on Lockdown
(Kennewick, WA) -- Kennewick Police responded to Southridge High School Thursday morning after students there told school staff about a suspicious juvenile male on the campus. The 17 year old juvenile male was recognized by students from a previous incident in which the student was a suspect in a burglary in September 2021 at Ranch and Home. The students reported that they thought that the suspect had a firearm in his backpack. Police were called and responded. Southridge High School was placed in lockdown while police investigated and attempt to locate the suspect
male. Chinook Middle School and Sage Crest Elementary School were placed in a modified lockdown.
After a search, KPD says the male had already left the campus and all three school were taken out of lock down. Southridge High School was in lockdown for approximately 45 minutes. It has not been confirmed if the suspect actually had a firearm in his backpack. No one was injured during the incident. Extra police presence was at the school today for extra security. The investigation is on-going.