A Palatine High School student was arrested on Monday, August 21, 2023 as part of an investigation, and was found carrying a loaded gun, according to an email from Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 sent to parents, students and families Thursday, August 24, 2023.
Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 stated that the Palatine Police Department school resource officer arrested the student in connection with a case that wasn’t related to Palatine High School. According to Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211, authorities found the gun after the student was handcuffed and searched in a secure area of the school.
Palatine police informed administrators about the student and the case they were investigating (not related to the school), and then the school’s security team and resource officer were notified, according to Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211. The student was arrested upon entering the high school after the school day had already begun, according to the district’s email to parents, students and families.
“The entire incident was under the control of the police. When the weapon was found, the student was already in police custody and secured; therefore, in consultation with police, there was no lockdown issued.”
“We can provide assurance that all steps are being taken to guarantee that there is no future threat to the Palatine High School community.”
— Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211
The email said communication with the school community was not possible until Thursday evening because “the situation was an active investigation being conducted by the Palatine Police Department and outside our direct authority.”
The Palatine High School student arrest occurred four days after 15 year-old male resident of Mount Prospect, Damian Hernandez, was shot on Thursday, August 17, 2023 about 5:19 a.m. in Palatine less than one mile northeast of Palatine High School. Damian Hernandez died from his gunshot wounds on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. Initially, no announcement was made indicating any connection of the Palatine High School student’s arrest Monday, August 21, 2023, and the homicide investigation for the fatal shooting of Damian Hernandez on August 17, 2023. Initially, no information has been released regarding what Mount Prospect teen Damian Hernandez was doing in Palatine around 5:20 a.m. on Tuesday, August 17, 2023 The Palatine Police Department announced Wednesday, August 23, 2023 that a 14 year-old suspect connected to the fatal shooting was charged in juvenile court with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. The juvenile suspect’s arrest date was not specified.
A second offender, 18-year-old Jesus Pantoja of the block of 1500 Silver Lane in unincorporated Palatine, is at large. Jesus Pantoja is considered armed and dangerous.
While police have not indicated a connection of the two cases, they have not indicated that the Palatine High School student arrest is not connected to the Damian Hernandez homicide investigation. The Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 notification of the arrest was made by e-mail to parents, and was not disclosed on the high school’s official website or social media accounts.
^^ MOBILE? USE VOICE MIC ^^
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