Student threat, false fire alarm triggered lockdown at Marion school

MARION - A Vernon Middle School student threatened to use a firearm and pulled a false fire alarm in the school Tuesday morning, triggering a lockdown, Marion Independent School District Superintendent Chris Dyer said in a statement.

The lockdown was lifted by 10:30 a.m. and students and staff were safe, Dyer said.

Marion Police removed 'the disruptive student,” he said, and the fire department was not dispatched. No weapons were found in the school, 1350 Fourth Ave., and 'children were not in danger.”

According to the Marion Police Department, officers were notified of the threat at 10:41 a.m. The threat, police said, 'generated an immediate and heavy police response that also resulted in a lockdown of the facility.”

The student was taken into custody within 10 minutes, police said.

Police say the student who made the threat this morning was charged with first-degree harassment and was transported to Linn County Juvenile Detention.

l Comments: (319) 398-8330; molly.duffy@thegazette.com