Student detained after unauthorized entry at Chesterfield high school leads to brief lockdown

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A suspended student was detained on Wednesday after attempting to enter L.C. Bird High School through an unauthorized entrance, prompting a brief lockdown.

The morning of Wednesday, March 18, the student attempted to gain access to L.C. Bird High School on Courthouse Road through an unauthorized entrance without force, according to a Chesterfield County Police Department spokesperson.

Police said the student was confronted by school staff and ran away on foot.

The student was located and detained in the area without incident after a brief search. Charges are pending.

"No threats were made and this appears to be an isolated incident," the spokesperson told 8News. "The school was briefly locked down but is now back to normal operations."

A district spokesperson told 8News that the secure status was lifted just after 11 a.m. and shared the following message shared with the school community at 11:06 a.m., which reads, in part:

"Our school is no longer on secure status and students and staff are returning to our usual instruction and activities. If you need to come to school to pick up your child, you are welcome to do so. However, we are on a normal schedule the remainder of the day. I am proud of how our students and staff members reacted during this unexpected incident. I appreciate your patience as we continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our school community."

8News reached out to Chesterfield County Public Schools for more information about this incident, but has not yet heard back as of the time of reporting.