UPDATE 1:59 p.m. Wednesday

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said Wednesday the Hays Police Department requested a lockdown of Hays Middle and Wilson Elementary schools Wednesday because it was executing a search warrant in the 2700 block of Hickory, which is within a block of both of schools.

The search warrant was related to an armed robbery that occurred in Hays. No arrests were made at the time the search warrant was executed.

Scheibler said the case is still being investigated and no more details about the case could be released at this time.

“I cannot stress enough how grateful I am for the relationship with our school district that we have this open line of communication,” Scheibler said. “At the end of the day, our goal is make sure everyone is safe. I appreciate their cooperation in ensuring the kids wren’t out in the yard during that time period.”

Hays Post

Parents of Hays Middle School and Wilson Elementary School students were notified of a lockdown at the schools as of 12:55 p.m. Wednesday. The lockdown lasted about 20 minutes before the school was given the all-clear.

The following email was released:

At approximately 12:55, Hays Middle School and Wilson Elementary have gone into a soft lockdown in cooperation with the Hays Police Department as they conduct an operation. As a reminder, this means no one is allowed to enter or exit the school during this time. School will be business as normal inside the building. We will send another message when the operation is complete. 

Superintendent John Thissen said the district was notified by the HPD about an hour in advance of the soft lockdown that a police operation would be conducted in the vicinity of the school.

Thissen said that operation was completed at about 1:15 p.m., and both HMS and Wilson were given the all-clear.

Check Hays Post for more information as details become available.

Corrected at 2:29 p.m. for incorrect block of Hickory where the search warrant was issued.