Chambana Sun

Two Champaign high schools are safe after a call reporting an active threat proved to be unfounded. Champaign Police were dispatched at 2:01 p.m. when a 9-1-1 call was placed indicating a potential armed subject at Centennial High School. As the details of the call developed, the caller’s story was found to have several inconsistencies. Multiple officers and the assigned School Resource Officer quickly swept the school to search for any signs of a threat to the safety of students or the facility.

At the time of the search, very few students were present in the building, as school was released at 1:20 p.m. for a planned early dismissal day. Unit 4 officials put both Centennial and Central High Schools into lockdown out of an abundance of caution for staff in the building while officers conducted the search. Nothing was located that would indicate any threat in the building or surrounding area. Following the sweep, the lockdown was lifted at 2:30 p.m.

Champaign Police continue to investigate the source of the call and are searching for any information that may be of investigative assistance in that search. No arrests have been made at this time and the investigation is ongoing. Future updates may be provided as they become available.

Champaign Police ask that anyone who has additional information on the source of the call please call 217-351-4545. Arrangements can be made for information to be shared privately. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may also submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at: 217-373-8477 (TIPS); online at 373tips.com; or via the “P3 Tips” mobile app.

Citizens are reminded that information submitted to Crime Stoppers is completely anonymous. Calls are routed to a third-party national call center that receives your information, completes a tips information form, and then passes it on to the appropriate law enforcement agency. Caller ID tracking is not utilized by Crime Stoppers and conversations are not recorded.

Crime Stoppers will pay cash rewards of $5,000 for tips that lead to an arrest in any homicide case, $2,500 for tips leading to an arrest in a felony crime involving a firearm, and up to $1,000 for tips leading to the arrest of those responsible for any other crime.