Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsFriday, August 31, 2007 5:15 PM CDT
Comments Comments (12) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
Police presence continues at Pontiac high school
By Tony Sapochetti
tsapochetti@pantagraph.com
Advertisement

PONTIAC — Enhanced security continued Thursday at Pontiac Township High School, two days after two students were accused of planning a gun deal on campus, but the school and community were working to get back to normal routines. | Photo gallery

“School has been going great so far,” Principal Jon Kilgore said Thursday. “I talked to a couple students out in the hallway, and they said that they feel great and had smiles on their faces.

“I can’t say it’s like that for every student, but definitely for a large majority of students here,” he said.

The school went into a lockdown — called a Code Red — for 3½ hours Tuesday morning after a student was found to have six handguns on campus, authorities said. He planned to sell the guns to another student who intended to resell them elsewhere, authorities said.

Three students were arrested in the incident.

On Thursday, police officers used hand-held metal detectors on people entering the building and otherwise maintained a visible presence at the school, something some students seemed to appreciate.

“I do feel a little safer just with the cops being here in case something does happen,” said Dionna Burgess, a junior at the school.

Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy said he understands what the community has just gone through and asks everyone to trust officials to make the best decisions when it comes to any new safety measures.

“I have 100 percent confidence in the Code Red plan and in our police department,” McCoy said. “Everything was being done as it needed to be done.

“My feeling, as both a mayor and a parent, is that new security measures do need to be put into place,” he said. “I just hope that the public doesn’t panic and request unreasonable measures. How far do you go?

“It is never 100 percent (safe), and there will always be problems, but the problems get worse when the people don’t control themselves or their kids.”

The incident began when a student told an on-campus police officer he saw another student with handguns in his backpack on a school bus from Odell to Pontiac. Police said they found six handguns, but no ammunition, in a locker belonging to Sean Sullivan, 16, of Odell.

Prosecutors say Sullivan stole the guns from his father and planned to trade the guns for money and cocaine to fellow student Martin Huerta Jr., 15, of Saunemin. Huerta in turn planned to sell them in northern Livingston County for money and drugs, police say.

Sullivan and Huerta were charged Wednesday with 12 felony counts each of unlawful use of weapons, and Huerta also is accused of having an eighth of an ounce of cocaine at his home. They remained jailed Thursday in lieu of paying $50,000 each.

A third teen was arrested Wednesday in the case and charged as a juvenile, but additional information on him was not released Thursday.

“These kids have made a horrible mistake, and they have to be reminded of it for the rest of their lives,” said Karen Devault, a mother of a junior and a freshman at the school. “I’ve always thought that the school was safe. I just think that they made a mistake; they’re young.”

Initial fears that the guns were intended for a shooting at the school have faded, but security will continue to be a concern for the time being, officials said.

Kilgore said officials have been meeting as needed as immediate security questions arise. A meeting set for Thursday to discuss longer-term security issues, including revisions to school policy books, was canceled but will be rescheduled, probably for next week.

Long-term safety changes could include the continued use of metal detectors, either hand-held or permanent, or a key card system to allow entry through exterior doors.

Kilgore wasn’t sure how long the metal detectors would be used because they are on loan, but he said the school could buy them.

Pontiac Police Chief Dale Newsome said, “I am pleased with the support that we have received and glad that it all came out successfully.”

Take a look
Pontiac police were generally welcomed at Pontiac Township High School, Thursday, August 30, 2007. Police presence remained strong on campus in the wake of Tuesday's arrest of two students and a third Wednesday in connection with weapons being found in the school. (Pantagraph, David Proeber)
Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 12 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

Also to: why wrote on Aug 31, 2007 3:40 PM:

" Can't we be allies? Locally you also have an overabundance of criminals in need of incarceration; too many in fact for your own (McLean) county jail to house them all. The jail in Pontiac has been helping your jail (which helps keep YOU safer) by housing your criminals for you. Would you prefer we turn our backs and let you deal with it within your own county? This is Central Illinois jack, in the day of modern transportation Pontiac is exactly 35 miles from Normal and plenty of folks from here travel to there on a daily basis.Enlarge your bubble. We ARE part of the same bigger community. Do you think those guns couldn't have ended up where YOU live if this had not been thwarted? "

JD wrote on Aug 31, 2007 3:27 PM:

" This kind of coverage is what results in border line mass hysteria the next time. It was an isolated incident which in actuality posed little to no threat to the kids except a perceived threat. When it happens, people start running around, playing chicken little, because it must be something major because the news reports it like it is. So the articles actually feed the problem itself, all in the name of 'news' which actually means sales...because there is little news worthy about the whole event in Pontiac. "

GROW UP!!! wrote on Aug 31, 2007 2:59 PM:

" TO WHY - EVERYTHING HAS BEEN SAID!! I BELIEVE OUR CHILDREN ARE MORE IMPORTANT THEN YOUR OPINION- READ ANOTHER NEWSPAPER!!!!! "

to Bravo! wrote on Aug 31, 2007 2:47 PM:

" Um funny how people from little towns have to stick up for them so much? Last time I checked Pontiac is like 45 minutes from B/N. True people from Peoria and Champaign do come to B/N for shopping and other "metropolitan" activities. "

Bravo! wrote on Aug 31, 2007 1:14 PM:

" To To why: wrote on Aug 31, 2007 12:56 PM: Bravo ... well said! I think you give 'why' more credit than they deserve ... probably don't work at State Farm, don't have the money to eat out OR shop at The Gap! Oh, one more thing you didn't mention is the surrounding areas bring in a big portion of revenue for Bloomington/Normal and that person should be thanking Pontiac and the surrounding communities! "

To why: wrote on Aug 31, 2007 12:56 PM:

" It's a simple formula, really, and it's kind of surprising that you would struggle to understand. Here goes: Guns + Schools = News. When it happens at a school in the newspaper's circulation area, you bet it's gonna get coverage. Regardless, if you actually subscribed to the print version of the Pantagraph, you might be aware that it publishes a different edition for B/N than it does for Livingston County and the rural areas. Possibly you could refer to the B/N specific print version if you wish for your superior B/N existence to remain uncontaminated by minutae from rural communities like GUNS IN SCHOOLS. The arrogant, condescending attitudes exhibited by some B/N residents toward the surrounding rural communities is laughable. Yeah, you're so very cosmopolitan and your lives are so much more important because you eat at Chili's and shop at the Gap and work at State Farm and are concerned about cutting-edge issues like twenty-somethings frequenting bars in downtown Bloomington. Yeah, it's practically Manhattan. "

Near By wrote on Aug 31, 2007 11:34 AM:

" I don't not live in Pontiac but my son attends a high school near by. If it takes a few days of enhanced security and metal detectors to lessen the fear of students and make feel safe then it's worth it. I agree, this will blow over...but until then let it go. "

To Why: wrote on Aug 31, 2007 11:27 AM:

" Do you honestly believe the Pantagraph only sells subscriptions to Bloomington/Normal residents? Get over yourself. By all means...relish the story on the SUV that hit the utility pole...now there's some news! "

???? wrote on Aug 31, 2007 10:09 AM:

" "They" buy alot of Pantagraph's in Pontiac! What is your problem anyway? Skip it if you don't like the article! "

Releived wrote on Aug 31, 2007 8:02 AM:

" I think this will blow over eventually. Police do not need to be at a school like Pontiac. It's a good school with generally good people. These two guys messed up and are now paying for it. I think a little bit more security should be necessary, but just don't over do it. "

Now.... wrote on Aug 31, 2007 6:18 AM:

" Now we simply have an over-reaction. Somewhat like I felt the whole thing was, really. "

why wrote on Aug 31, 2007 3:26 AM:

" Why is this story still making the Bloomington/Normal news? Enough already, I'm ready to cancel my paper subscription! We have enough news that should be featured here in Bloomington/Normal, let THEIR weekly paper cover it. "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2008, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy