Superintendent: East Prairie R-2 Schools on lockdown, but students are safe

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. -- All schools in East Prairie are currently on lockdown, but the children are also safe and secure, according to the superintendent.

"This is strictly a precautionary measure," East Prairie R-2 Superintendent C.A. Counts said at 10 a.m. today. "There is a police suspect who is on a foot pursuit and ran toward one of our campuses. He never made entry into to any of our buildings or campuses. We are coordinating with the police and all the responders dealing with that."

About 9 a.m. Monday, the four campuses -- high school, junior high, Doyle Elementary and Martin Elementary -- in the district went into lockdown, and the information was put out to parents and guardians of the students, Counts said.

"The purpose of the lockdown is to maintain the safety and security of our children," Counts said. "It's a precautionary means to maintain and not put them in harm's way."

Counts said the district would stay in a lockdown and work with the East Prairie Police Department until given an "all-clear."

"Our children our safe," Counts said. "The lockdown procedure was effective and worked like it was supposed to. The staff did an excellent job as they were informed of the lockdown."

Check back for an update on this story.