Passer-by with gun sparks Marshall HS lockout

Marshall High School students and a staff member witnessed two people walking by the school, one with a rifle Monday afternoon, prompting a 20-minute lockout at the northeast Bend school while police searched the area and investigated, authorities said.

Police responded around 1:45 p.m. to the school at 1291 Northeast Fifth Street on a report two men walking north on Fifth Street past the school, one carrying a rifle, said Lt. Jason Maniscalco.

He said the man was not observed pointing or menacing anyone with the rifle, and was never observed to be on school property.

The man carrying the gun was wearing a black shirt and his accompanying him was wearing a camouflage print shirt, Maniscalco said. They last were seen in the area of Fifth Street and Norton Avenue.

“The school went into a precautionary lockout and police were contacted to investigate,” said Bend-La Pine Schools spokeswoman Julianne Repman. “A police officer was inside the school with staff and students during the lockout.”

“Buses were staged outside of the school area and deliveries and maintenance crews were suspended during the lockout,” Repman added.

Maniscalco said several officers, along with a school resource officer, checked the surrounding area for the man with the firearm.

Police learned the man may have just bought the gun at Cash Connection at 1031 Northeast Fifth Street. Based on information from the pawn shop, Maniscalco said officers determined a man matching the description had lawfully purchased a shotgun there.

After a thorough search, the lockout was lifted and buses were allowed to pick up students at the school.

“There is no evidence of a crime at this point,” Maniscalco said in a news release, “but police are still trying to contact the person who was carrying the gun.”