GURNEE, IL - September 18, 2009 - At approximately 9:45 AM today, the Gurnee School Resource Officer (SRO) at Warren Township High School was notified that a weapon was found in a second floor boy’s bathroom at the O’Plaine Road Campus, 500 N. O’Plaine Road.

A school security officer noted some suspicious activity around the bathroom involving some boys in the area. After they left the bathroom, the security officer entered the bathroom and saw that a ceiling tile had been moved. Upon checking the ceiling he saw a small handgun placed on top of the ceiling tile. School officials were notified along with the Gurnee SRO. The weapon was removed and found to be unloaded and no ammunition was found in the area. School officials placed the campus on lock down while the incident was investigated further. Three specially trained K-9 units from the Cook County Sheriff’s Police assisted in the search of the school to check for the presence of other weapons. No other weapons were found. Three possible suspects were identified from review of school security video and all were subsequently located and questioned by detectives. School officials cancelled classes for the remainder of the day at the O’Plaine Campus and students were released. The investigation revealed that there was no intent to use the weapon on campus. One of the suspects was passing it on to another to sell the gun. No students were threatened or in any danger during this incident. Three 15 year old males have been charged in this incident. One suspect is a 10th grade student at Warren and resides in Park City. Another 10th grade student is from unincorporated Gurnee and the third is a 9th grade student from Gurnee. All three have been charged with one count of Unlawful Use of a Weapon in a school building, a Class 3 Felony, one count of Unauthorized Possession of a Weapon in a public building, a Class A Misdemeanor and Disorderly Conduct, a Class C Misdemeanor. All three suspects have been released to their parents. They will be referred to the Lake County Juvenile Court at the Depke Center in Vernon Hills.