Man With Umbrella Leads To Lockdown Of Ohio School

(Courtesy of AP Photo)
(Courtesy of AP Photo)
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Updated: 12/20/2012 7:00 am
 AKRON, Ohio (AP) - Authorities say an elderly man carrying an umbrella that was mistaken for a rifle led to a brief panic and lock-down at a northeast Ohio high school.

Police say an employee at Hudson High School in the Akron area reported the man in a hunting cap carrying what looked like a rifle Wednesday morning.

Principal Brian Wilch told the Akron Beacon Journal that doors were immediately barricaded and an alert sent to parents.

The lockdown was canceled after the man was located and identified.

Wilch said "everyone is on edge" after the shooting at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school last week that killed 20 children and six adults.

In Medina, south of Cleveland, authorities locked down an elementary school Wednesday morning after an empty shell casing was found.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of WKRC-TV :: Cincinnati Weather and Forecasts, Cincinnati News, Breaking News, and Sports for the Cincinnati area, Ohio, northern Kentucky, Indiana, and the tristate area

hostaholiday - 12/21/2012 11:37 PM
0 Votes
Richard Van Dike was probably going to that school to perform one of his old musicals!

zookeeper - 12/20/2012 2:45 PM
1 Vote
Better safe that sorry.

Gunney - 12/20/2012 1:56 PM
0 Votes
oops...s/be "note"

Gunney - 12/20/2012 1:47 PM
2 Votes
@Lee62: Please not that I did NOT say hide our heads in the sand, like ostrich's; I said "Be vigilant folks, not terrified and panic stricken..." @ Jim Schu; LMFAO, one of the best responses I've had the pleasure to read...Thanx !!!

Jim Schu - 12/20/2012 11:17 AM
5 Votes
Gunney, what the hell are you talking about? Do you seriously desire to “outlaw the possession of umbrellas”? (Correction mine). That’s INSANE! Look, we all understand the inherent dangers involved in umbrella ownership but I believe your plea is nothing more than a kneejerk emotional response. How can you guarantee ALL umbrellas will be confiscated? If your proposal becomes “law” only law abiding citizens will willingly surrender their umbrellas. How do you propose to dis-umbrella the criminal element? When umbrellas are outlawed only outlaws will be dry. Most of us are responsible umbrella owners. Why should we be penalized for the actions of a few demented, irresponsible people? I, personally, own SEVERAL umbrellas and I’ve never used any of them offensively… yet. Umbrellas are a great defensive weapon against rain and snow. I have regular umbrellas, large beach umbrellas, compact umbrellas, quick open umbrellas, automatic umbrellas, manual umbrellas, camo umbrellas and tactical umbrellas. (A man can NEVER have too many umbrellas). I NEVER point my umbrella at anyone unless I intend to use it. I keep my umbrellas locked up when not in use. I NEVER allow children access to my umbrellas. I admit I’ve been known to carry a concealed umbrella without a permit because I believe the government has NO RIGHT to regulate my use of umbrellas. RIGHTS require no licenses or permits! May I remind you that your reckless proposal violates our inalienable right to be dry? (Originally the 11th Amendment until the founders decided the Bill of Rights should be an even number). Please step away from this issue, calm down and THINK this through. You want MY umbrellas?! You’ll have to pry them from my cold, dead (yet surprisingly dry) “arms”!

Lee62 - 12/20/2012 11:05 AM
2 Votes
It's easy to sit back & mock and make fun, but have you all been reading about the copy-cat incidents nation-wide that have occurred since the Connecticut tragedy? Folks have very good reason to easily panic with everything that's going on. Those folks are in a no-win situation; if they report something that's an innocent mistake, they're mocked. If they don't report something, what if it turns out to be a deadly mistake?

Gunney - 12/20/2012 8:57 AM
8 Votes
At jasonp162, you nailed it... I think we should outlaw the possession of umbrella's..Too many criminals are able to get their hands on them, and wreaking havoc on innocent law abiding citizens....SARCASM IS INTENDED...Be vigilant folks, not terrified and panic stricken...

say21wut - 12/20/2012 7:59 AM
2 Votes
So when someone induces panic by calling the police over an umbrella there are no charges filed. Another one of those pick and choose laws I see.

jasonp162 - 12/20/2012 7:52 AM
2 Votes
See what we have become.
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