Man practicing open carry right prompts school lockdown

Madison Heights — Lamphere High School was on a brief lockdown Wednesday when a man was spotted near the property carrying a long gun and holstered pistol, according to police.

Officers who responded around 11:30 a.m. to the school on 13 Mile near Interstate 75 determined the man was exercising his right to open carry and was not a threat.

The lockdown was lifted around 12:20 p.m., according to school officials.

"We had a citizen exercise his right to open carry, and he chose to exercise that right near the high school," Officer Carey Spangler said. "He has since moved away from the area."

Rita Lewis, human resource director with the school district, said police called the school when the man approached the property.

"They had their eye on him," she said. "He started in Royal Oak, and he walked quite a ways to Madison Heights and then walked back."

The man, who police said lives in the area, was standing near the school's driveway when police received "about a million 911 calls," Spangler said.

"We've dealt with this individual in the past," he said. "We know of him to exercise his right to open carry."

HFournier@detroitnews.com

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