KENT, Wash. — A teenager suspected in an armed carjacking in Kent made his first appearance in juvenile court the afternoon of Sept. 6.
The teen is suspected of going inside Kentridge High School after the carjacking, forcing the school into lockdown the morning of Sept. 5.
The judge released the suspect to his grandmother and scheduled his arraignment for Sept. 11.
KING 5 is not naming the teen because he has not been charged. KING 5 does not name juveniles if they are not charged as adults.
"We were all terrified that something was happening to our kids,” said Lorraine Dukes, whose grandchild is a student at Kentridge.
She said with recent deadly school shootings in other states, some parents feared the worst.
“Especially after the school shooting the day before in Georgia, everybody was pretty scared out on the street and trying to figure out what was happening with the kids,” said Dukes.
But in this case, it was not a school shooting, and no one was hurt.
Kent police said the juvenile suspected in the armed carjacking near the school ended up parking outside the school and then went inside. When he was found in the school, police said he did not have a gun on him.
Dukes said there was a lack of communication from the school and that parents did get any information for hours.
“The lockdown started at 9:50-something and we didn't hear anything until 12:30,” said Dukes. “So, we had two-and-a-half hours of not knowing anything and helicopters telling us to stay in the house and stuff, it was pretty scary to have the kids there,” said Dukes.
Another Kentridge High School parent told KING 5 she also felt the district’s communication was inadequate.
"I only found out when my daughter texted me. It wasn't until late yesterday that we heard anything from the school. I don't understand why there are no metal detectors or locked doors,” said the Kentridge High School parent, who asked to stay anonymous.
After this, parents said they want to see changes: better communication and more security measures.
"I hadn't thought about it previously, but yeah I think it should be locked,” said Dukes.
It is unknown if the suspect is a student at Kentridge High School.
KING 5 contacted the Kent School District to ask how the suspect was able to get inside and why it took so long to contact parents, but the district has not responded.