Local News
Lockdown Lifted at Rockledge High School Following Investigation
UPDATE: The lockdown at Rockledge High School has been lifted after authorities conducted an investigation on Friday afternoon.
A lockdown has been implemented at Rockledge High School following reports of an armed individual on campus. According to unconfirmed rumors, a Black male with dreadlocks is believed to have entered building 34 while armed.
Multiple students have been detained, and law enforcement officials have conducted a thorough search of building 34. SWAT teams are now moving towards building 8.
Source told Channel2 NOW that two individuals, wearing black and blue hoodies, were seen being led away in handcuffs by sheriff’s deputies through the rear of the school.”
According to messages sent to parents, the school initially implemented a shelter-in-place protocol while authorities investigated information received by the administration.
However, the lockdown was subsequently upgraded as the situation developed.
The nature of the incident that prompted the police response remains unclear at this time.
Further details will be released as the investigation progresses.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.