photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

The Lawrence school district offices building, located at 110 McDonald Dr., is pictured in May 2025.

Updated at 2:47 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026.

Lawrence Police Department has detained a “suspicious individual” after Lawrence High, Liberty Memorial Central Middle and Cordley Elementary schools were all on lockout Thursday afternoon.

Jake Potter, the district spokesperson, told the Journal-World earlier in the day that all three buildings were in safety protocols “based on the same report of a suspicious individual within the vicinity.”

A communication sent around 2:30 p.m. said “Lawrence Police Department has reported that an individual has been detained, and that school buildings are ALL CLEAR. Normal dismissal for Lawrence High and Liberty Memorial Central Middle School.”

Parent-teacher conferences are being held this week, so there was no school on Thursday for students in Pre-K through fifth grade. There will also be no school on Friday for all students, Pre-K through 12th grade.

The Journal-World has reached out to the Lawrence Police Department, but has not received a response as of 2:45 p.m. on Thursday.