Evanston police say scene is clear after standoff; schools were on lockdown earlier

EVANSTON, Ill. (CBS) -- All Evanston K-12 schools and daycares were placed on a soft lockdown Friday afternoon amid reports of an  incident involving an "emotionally disturbed person". 

Evanston police said they were called at 11 a.m. for a battery involving the "emotionally disturbed person" in the area of the 900 block of Michigan Avenue, near Main Street.

The initial investigation indicated that the person might have left the scene before police arrived, or may have gone back to a unit inside the building where the battery happened.

The school lockdown was a precautionary measure due to police activity related to the investigation. Police said no shots were ever fired, but there were concerns because there were guns inside the person's home.

The lockdown first only affected Lincoln Elementary School, at 910 Forest Ave. near the scene, but later included all Evanston K-12 schools and daycares after police concluded the person may have made it into downtown Evanston.

EPD later recommended lockdowns be lifted at all schools except for Lincoln Park, Nichols, and Chiaravelle. Lockdowns remained in place at those schools for sometime afterward.

Police said the person later barricaded themselves inside an apartment in the area of Michigan Avenue and Main Street, close to the lake. A heavy police presence was sent to the scene, along with representatives of Trilogy Behavioral Health.

Northern Illinois Police Alarm System officers finally entered the person's home late Friday afternoon, but the person was not there. The area is secure, and roads near the scene are being reopened.

A smaller police presence will remain at the scene.

Police said they did not believe there was ever a threat to the public, and a shelter-in-place order was not issued to the general public. 

• Evanston