15-year-old student arrested after lockdown at Lexington high school

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - A loaded gun was the reason for the large police presence at Henry Clay High School in Lexington Thursday morning, according to school officials.

FCPS officials held a media briefing Thursday afternoon to give more information about what happened:

School officials say they received information during the first period of classes Thursday morning that a student might have a weapon on campus. Fayette County Schools Police then began investigating.

They say the school was placed on lockdown at 9:18 a.m.

During the investigation, police confiscated a loaded handgun from a 15-year-old student. The student has been charged with possession of a weapon on school property.

Police say they have no reason to believe the student had any intention to use the weapon at the school. Police say they have no credible evidence of any threats against students, staff, or campus.

Police are still investigating how the weapon got into the building.

Students and staff do have to walk through metal detectors at all Fayette County High Schools, including Henry Clay. The school just installed them in 2020 and was the last FCPS high school to get them.

The metal detectors are in the gym. According to the school’s policy, all students enter through the gym and go through the detectors. Students who get to school at a later time enter through the main lobby and must go through metal detector scans there.

However, some students told their parents that metal detectors and security could be a part of the issue.

“When they go through the metal detectors, they just unzip their bags, look once and say, ‘you’re good to go.’ She says they don’t even check our bags,” said Carolyn Blackford, grandparent.

Superintendent Demetrus Liggins says the school district’s 10-point safety protocol process is currently under review.

Several students were signed out by their parents Thursday, but, after the all-clear was given, classes went on as normal and will be normal Friday.

Henry Clay Principal Paul Little says both students and staff go through training in handling situations like this. He says he’s thankful it ended the way it did.

In September, police also arrested a student at Frederick Douglass High School after they found a gun in a car on school property.

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