Fairfield schools went into lockdown after man with gun seen at Pence Elementary school

Fairfield Community Schools had an early dismissal Friday after being placed on “Level 2 lockdown” due to reports of a man brandishing a firearm on Pence Elementary grounds.

At approximately 12:40 p.m., a call was made to Jefferson County Dispatch Center claiming there was an armed male at Pence Elementary. Fairfield Police responded and secured the school in less than three minutes, according to a press release from the Jefferson County Attorney's office.

The School District and Maharishi International University went into lockdown soon after with the first bit of publicly broadcasted information on the incident coming from Fairfield High School’s Facebook page at 1:31 p.m.

“ATTENTION....All FCSD buildings are currently under a Level 2 lock down.  Law enforcement has been called to investigate the report of dangerous activity around the Pence Elementary playground," the post read. "Student release will be delayed until Law Enforcement says it is safe to release.”

More news:Motorcycle accident in Des Moines neighborhood leaves driver dead

The message was followed by another from the school’s Facebook page at 1:44 p.m.

“Law Enforcement has secured the areas around each of the FCSD attendance centers," the second post read. "Students who are being picked up in personal vehicles will be released approximately 1:45 PM.  If you are picking up your student, please follow normal routes and procedures for your buildings for car pick up.  Buses will be released shortly after that and another message will be sent out at that time.”

Schools were dismissed with high law enforcement presence from multiple counties as parents picked their children up or students were bused or walked home.

More news:West Des Moines' Crestview school says stranger approached fourth graders about drugs

Fairfield Community Schools lifted the lockdown at 3:00 p.m., according to Pence Elementary’s Principal’s office.

All schools that were in lockdown Friday are in a 2-mile radius of each other.

Law enforcement was not able to locate the suspect or confirm that they were carrying a weapon. An investigation is currently underway looking for someone who matches the description of the suspect, which was not included in Jefferson County Attorney Office’s press release.

Fairfield’s police chief, David Thomas, could not be reached for comments.