Four Parkway schools on ‘lockout’ as police search nearby

UPDATE: An armed suspect has been taken into custody near Parkway High School at approximately 7 p.m. No one was hurt in the incident.

Parkway School District has confirmed that four of its schools – Parkway South High School, Southwest Middle School, Wren Hollow Elementary and Hanna Woods Elementary went on voluntary “lockout” after Manchester and Ballwin police made it known that they were searching for a suicidal person in the vicinity of Parkway South High.

Cathy Kelly, Parkway communications coordinator, stressed that students were never in danger and that most had left the school areas well before the lockout began. Kelly said the lockout was a precaution and that the students were not in immediate harm.

A lockout differs from a lock-down in that during a lockout, individuals are allowed to leave the school, with escort provided by local police; however, no one is allowed to enter the school. During a lock-down, no one is allowed to enter or leave the schools.

By 6:45 p.m., Parkway reported that only staff remained in the school buildings.