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JUST IN: Lockdown of 3 LA Unified schools during UCLA shooting investigation has been lifted

Mike Szymanski | June 1, 2016



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WarnerNamesm*UPDATED

The lockdown of two LA Unified elementary schools and a middle school near the UCLA campus following a shooting there has been lifted and classes are resuming, school police reported.

Warner Avenue Elementary School, Fairburn Avenue Elementary School and Emerson Middle School had been put on lockdown “as a precaution,” said Ellen Morgan, of the LA Unified communications office. “All are safe,” she said. She said that a member of the LA school police is at each of the schools.

Marymount High School, located across Sunset Boulevard from UCLA, was also on lockdown.

According to one parent, this is the second time that Warner has been on lockdown this school year. The school is located just blocks from UCLA’s east border and has a number of UCLA professors’ children. Agnes Kamau, Warner’s principal, said in an email to parents that she and a psychologist visited classrooms to evaluate the emotional state of children and staff and that a counselor would be available on campus Thursday morning for students, staff or parents needing support. She said the students ate lunch in their classrooms during the lockdown.

An 8th grade field trip from Emerson had all the students going to UCLA for the day. The school principal reported all were safe. Parents gathered outside the three schools during the lockdown but were not allowed to get their children until it was over.

LA Unified schools have practiced lockdown procedures as a regular part of the school year, as well as earthquake drills. Teachers and school administrators try to keep the students as calm as possible during drills.

Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck announced shortly after noon Wednesday that the incident was a murder-suicide.

“The campus is safe,” Beck said.

UCLA’s lockdown has ended but classes were canceled for the day.


*This article has been updated with the lockdown ending and the principal’s email to Warner parents. 

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