LENEXA, Kan. - A Catholic school was put on lockdown on Thursday after an alleged intruder fell through a ceiling.
The incident happened around noon at the building home to the Holy Trinity Catholic Church Early Education Center on West 92nd Street.
According to police, a man fell through a ceiling at the facility during what appeared to be an attempted burglary.
After the school was put on lockdown, parents received messages on their phone alerting them of the situation.
“As a father, you immediately start thinking about where specifically in the facility, where were the kids, were they outside,” explained Kenneth Derk, a parent who spoke to 41 Action News on Thursday. “Falling through the ceiling, he has access to our children, our loved ones, our neighbors."
Investigators said fire personnel first responded to the scene before the suspect became combative.
Fire crews then requested help from police before the man ran away and hid inside a nearby chapel.
The emergency led to teachers and staff having to fall back on training during lockdown drills they have run in the past.
“We practice this so many times with the kids,” said Susan Smith, who works in the front office of the school. “Today it was, ‘Okay, real thing. Let the kids get safe.’”
With the situation requiring quick response, Smith said staff and teachers reacted appropriately.
“The children responded quickly,” she said. “The teachers were amazing. Within 60 seconds, we had those children locked up and we just waited for the all-clear.“
Police were able to apprehend the suspect inside the chapel.
Investigators said the man did not appear to have any connection to the church, which led them to believe he was attempting a burglary at the time.
As of Thursday night, police had not released a name or any other information about the suspect.
