Hope HS Put on Lockdown After Suspected Gunman on Campus
By: Lisa Mendenhall
Updated: February 5, 2013
Hope High School (Hempstead County) was on lockdown late Tuesday morning after a report of a man with a handgun on campus.
Tuesday morning at approximately 10:35, the School Resource Officer at Hope High School received information that there was a person with a gun on the campus.
Officers with the Hope Police Department, Hempstead County Sheriff's Department, Arkansas State Police, and the Arkansas Highway Police responded to the area.
Witnesses reported that a black male in his early-to-mid 20s standing 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall with braided hair, wearing light blue shirt with possibly a white diamond on the front and blue jeans approached the door of the Tech Building and tried to open the locked door.
Students who were in the hallway at the time the person attempted to gain entry reported that he had a gun in the waistband of his pants.
A teacher made contact with the suspect after the students reportedly went into the classroom and told about the incident. The suspect then left the area walking south. Law enforcement officers swept all buildings on the high school campus with negative results.
Officers then began to receive reports that the person may have entered a building at the Canyon Creek Apartments, located at 303 West 23rd Street, in Hope. Law enforcement checked that area, also with negative results.
Officers later received information that the suspect had possibly inquired about the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope (UACCH) campus. UACCH was notified and campus officials put its campus on lockdown, and after all buildings on that campus were searched, the suspect was not located.
As of this time, the unknown person has not been located. The Hope Police Department has received information that the person may have left the area of the Hope High School in a small gold-colored car, traveling south on South Main Street.
Anyone having any further information on this incident should call the Hope Police Department as soon as possible.
The person involved in this is a person of interest only. The Hope Police Department only desires to identify and speak with this person.
Tuesday morning at approximately 10:35, the School Resource Officer at Hope High School received information that there was a person with a gun on the campus.
Officers with the Hope Police Department, Hempstead County Sheriff's Department, Arkansas State Police, and the Arkansas Highway Police responded to the area.
Witnesses reported that a black male in his early-to-mid 20s standing 5 feet 8 inches to 6 feet tall with braided hair, wearing light blue shirt with possibly a white diamond on the front and blue jeans approached the door of the Tech Building and tried to open the locked door.
Students who were in the hallway at the time the person attempted to gain entry reported that he had a gun in the waistband of his pants.
A teacher made contact with the suspect after the students reportedly went into the classroom and told about the incident. The suspect then left the area walking south. Law enforcement officers swept all buildings on the high school campus with negative results.
Officers then began to receive reports that the person may have entered a building at the Canyon Creek Apartments, located at 303 West 23rd Street, in Hope. Law enforcement checked that area, also with negative results.
Officers later received information that the suspect had possibly inquired about the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope (UACCH) campus. UACCH was notified and campus officials put its campus on lockdown, and after all buildings on that campus were searched, the suspect was not located.
As of this time, the unknown person has not been located. The Hope Police Department has received information that the person may have left the area of the Hope High School in a small gold-colored car, traveling south on South Main Street.
Anyone having any further information on this incident should call the Hope Police Department as soon as possible.
The person involved in this is a person of interest only. The Hope Police Department only desires to identify and speak with this person.
