Columbus public school officials Monday morning partially locked down East High School. The additional security followed the weekend murder of a former East High student and the wounding of three other men.
Columbus police said four people were arrested for criminal trespassing outside East High School. The arrests came after one person was killed and three others wounded at a high school house party Friday night on the city's east side. Police did not say if those arrested are connected in any way with the shooting. School officials boosted security by locking all of the building's exterior doors. Amanda Zechar, 17, is a student at East High.
"We're on a level two lockdown. I guess it's because of what happened over the weekend at the party. Nobody's allowed to leave the school; nobody's allowed to come in," Zechar said.
Several parents escorted their children out of East High around lunchtime. Jeff Warner with Columbus Public Schools said the heightened security was to "create a sense of safety for the students." He is not sure how long the school will be under the increased security. Warner said grief counselors were at the school.
Former East High student Eric T. Reeves, 17, died early Saturday morning after being shot in the head at a party on Hildreth Avenue. Columbus Police Sergeant Kevin Corcoran said the department has limited information at this time.
"Right now there's no suspects and we don't have any motives out of this," Corcoran said.
Eric T. Reeves had not attended classes at East High this school year.