Reports of armed suspect prompt lockdown of Hope schools

Reports of an armed person on the campus of Hope High School in Hope, Arkansas, resulted in the immediate lockdown of the school today (Feb. 5, 2013).

At around 10:35 this morning, the School Resource Officer at Hope High School received information that a person armed with a gun was on the campus. The SRO immediately contacted backup and Hope Police, Hempstead County Sheriff's deputies, Arkansas State Police and Arkansas Highway Police responded to the area.

The report came from students who were in the hallway of the school's Tech Building when a male appearing to have a handgun in the waistband of his pants attempted to gain entry. The students went into a classroom and told a teacher of the incident. The teacher then made contact with the suspect, who then left the area walking south.

The suspect was described as a black male with braided hair, from 5'8" to 6" tall, in his early- to mid-20s, wearing a light blue shirt with a possible white diamond on it and blue jeans.

Law enforcement officers swept all buildings on the Hope High School Campus, but did not locate the suspect.

The officers then received information that the suspect had possibly inquired about the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope campus, which was then notified and put on lockdown. That lockdown was followed by a search of all buildings, which again turned up nothing.

Hope Police later received information that the person may have left the high school in a small, gold car, which was traveling south on South Main Street.

Authorities are still seeking information on this incident and requests anyone having information to please call the Hope Police Department at (870) 777-3434. The person being sought is a person of interest only.