EAST LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – The St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School and Parish in East Lansing, Michigan experienced three separate and unrelated security incidents on campus grounds in the span of one week. This prompted heightened concern among parents and leading school officials to close the school Friday, January 9, “out of an abundance of caution,” according to school staff.
St. Thomas Aquinas Parish School is a Catholic elementary school located in East Lansing and operates in conjunction with the parish church. They offer education for pre-K through 8th grade students.
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The closure of the school happened after a school communication was sent out in the “Tartan Times” newsletter which stated that at approximately 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, the school entered a soft lockdown after a man was observed outside the building looking into the school. East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) officers were dispatched.
David Kerr, Director of Communications with Diocese of Lansing, told Michigan News Source the unknown man had left the campus before police arrived and has not been identified. He added that the school’s security camera captured an image of the man and is now with law enforcement and the school’s security firm, TeachOut Security.
Grandparent describes repeated incursions and mounting parent frustration.
In addition to that Thursday incident, Tom Greyerbiehl, a grandparent with two grandchildren enrolled at the school, told Michigan News Source that there were two other incursions. Kerr confirmed this information in an email.
Greyerbiehl noted that information shared with parents has been limited, contributing to growing frustration over what many describe as a lack of transparency. Parents were not informed of the exact nature of the incidents other than the one that happened on Thursday. That is why we reached out to the school and the parish for more information.
The second incident uncovered by Michigan News Source and confirmed by Kerr involved a local man who is known to parish staff who visited the church seeking financial assistance. After refusing to leave the area of the parish offices, parish staff called the East Lansing Police Department. They arrived quickly and the man was removed from the parish premises. This is believed to be the man photographed by the mother of a student while he stood outside speaking with three law enforcement officers. In the photo provided to us, the individual appears to be an adult male wearing dark clothing, a baseball cap, and carrying a bag.
Meeting didn’t satisfy parents.
According to Greyerbiehl, he said that families learned the FBI was involved in one of the investigations, a detail he said was shared by staff during a parent, teacher, and staff meeting with the pastor on Wednesday, January 7. However, Greyerbiehl said the meeting offered few concrete details, leaving him feeling no better informed afterward than he was beforehand. He said the parents in attendance were visibly frustrated by what they viewed as a lack of transparency. “The parents are really upset, as am I, because of lack of information,” Greyerbiehl said.
Social media video prompted rapid security response.
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Kerr provided information on the third incursion, pointing to a video filmed by a local man that was posted to social media on Saturday, January 3. The video showed the man sitting in a parked vehicle outside Saint Thomas Aquinas church, with the words “Allahu Akbar” superimposed over the footage.
Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish and School became aware of the video on Sunday, January 4, and immediately referred the post to the school’s contracted security firm, TeachOut Security. TeachOut Security, in turn, promptly notified law enforcement, including the East Lansing Police Department (ELPD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). An enhanced law enforcement presence was provided at the parish and school on Monday, January 5. By Tuesday, January 6, authorities had identified the individual featured in the video and determined that he did not pose a credible threat.
Michigan News Source contacted the FBI field office in Detroit about the situation. Public Affairs Officer Jordan Hall said, “As a matter of longstanding policy with the Department of Justice, the FBI can neither confirm nor deny if we are conducting an investigation.”
In addition, Michigan News Source reached out to the communications director with the East Lansing Police to clarify information related to the incursions but they did not return our request for comment. However, Kerr stated that the East Lansing Police Department will host a debrief meeting for the parish and school community tonight between 6-7pm in the preschool’s Multipurpose Room.
The bottom line.
While no injuries or direct threats against the school or parish have been acknowledged, parents say the frequency of the incidents – combined with limited information – has left families uneasy and seeking clearer communication from school leaders about campus safety. School and parish leadership, however, emphasized that established security protocols and coordination with law enforcement functioned as intended during the incidents.
In a statement from Father Gordon Reigle, Pastor of Saint Thomas Aquinas in East Lansing he says, “The safety of our students and parishioners is of paramount importance to Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish and School. It’s non-negotiable. That’s why we contract with a reputable and reliable security firm, TeachOut Security, and work closely with local law enforcement. This close partnership proved its effectiveness last week on three separate occasions.”
He went on to say, “We would like to put on record our thanks to TeachOut Security, East Lansing Police Department, and their partner agencies, for their professionalism and guidance. More importantly, we would like to thank the families of Saint Thomas Aquinas Parish and School for their support and understanding throughout. Thank you. God bless you.”
