As students, faculty and parents pulled up to Roosevelt High School’s campus Friday morning some were wondering how a man managed to get into a building that’s meant to be secure.
One student who spoke to KIRO 7 and gave his name as Matt had questions and concerns about the incident. “I would think it should be a lot harder for people to get into the school.”
Another student named Evan also admitted that the circumstances were alarming. “It’s definitely not good. I don’t like it.”
Police say Seattle Police arrested a suspect after he was taken into custody in the building on the second floor of Roosevelt High School.
Police say the suspect got in with a taser and handcuffs, and said he was a federal agent doing “recon.”
He also said that he needed to arrest the principal to “protect the children.”
River Lightfoot, a Roosevelt High parent, learned about the lockdown shortly after the suspect walked into the building around 1:30 PM Thursday. “It’s kinda scary we were in Bellevue at the time when it happened so we rushed over here.
Lightfoot was concerned about the incident, but not too concerned about the security protocols at the school. “From my understanding, it’s pretty secure people can get buzzed in … The security seems pretty alright here.”
Pictures show what the suspect took into the school, all laid out on a patrol car: a wooden tool, radiation scanner, taser, handcuffs.
Once inside, the man threatened staff, and some witnesses said they feared for their lives.
A student named Marcus said he saw some commotion as he was returning to the school building and purposely avoided whatever was happening. “I tried to not go where that was coming from because number one I’m trying not to get tased and number two I’m not trying to get hit with a wooden stick.”
Students said a buzzer system provides security, but also wondered how someone got past it.
Police say the 32-year-old suspect is from Seattle, and officers recognized him from previous encounters. He was referred to a mental health court.
Lightfoot knows there are people with emotional problems on Seattle’s streets, but getting into a school with all that gear is alarming. “It’s a little weird. Who knows what all these people are carrying though in their backpacks.”
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