UPDATE: Lawrence schools briefly placed on lockout over ‘credible threat’ involving community member
photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World
The Lawrence school district offices building, located at 110 McDonald Drive, is pictured in May 2025.
Story updated at 2:22 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026.
The Lawrence school district briefly placed all of its school buildings on a lockout Thursday afternoon on the advice of the Lawrence Police Department after a “credible threat involving a mental health concern with an individual in the community,” according to a district message shared with families.
LPD said on social media at 1:55 p.m. that there was a large police presence on 26th Street west of Iowa Street and advised people to avoid the area.
“LKPD negotiators are on scene attempting to get a man to come out peacefully. We received a call just before noon stating the man was in crisis and making threats of school violence.” The school lockout was lifted at 1:15 p.m. once negotiations with the man began.
A lockout is when students and staff continue instruction as normal inside the school buildings with no outdoor activity and all exterior doors secured.
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