Dustin Lockwood, 23, of Arnold is facing a federal criminal charge for possession of a firearm in a school zone after law enforcement officials reportedly found guns, ammunition and other items in the vehicle he drove to and parked at Fox High School in Arnold on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 20), the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported.
Lockwood was charged today (Feb 21), and made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in St. Louis this afternoon, the report said.
During the appearance, the U.S Attorney’s Office requested that Lockwood be detained pending trial, and a preliminary hearing and a hearing on pretrial detention is set for Monday, Feb. 26, according to the report.
If convicted, Lockwood faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a fine up to $250,000.
According to the federal complaint against Lockwood, authorities allegedly found a .22-caliber rifle and a .22-caliber revolver in his vehicle parked at Fox High. In addition, “multiple spent shell casings” were found “throughout the vehicle,” the report said.
Other items found either inside the vehicle or in the trunk included what looked like a home-made silencer, multiple knives, a machete, ammunition for .22-caliber and 9mm firearms and bags and boxes of “explosive-related material,” according to the report.
Later, authorities searched Lockwood’s home and allegedly found “numerous chemicals and bomb-making components,” the report said.
Authorities say they don’t believe Lockwood was at Fox High to “commit any act of violence,” but instead was there “to pick up a family member,” Arnold Police reported.
Fox C-6 Superintendent Jim Wipke said in a letter that was sent to district families that there were no threats made to the school in connection with the incident.
“I want to be very clear – law enforcement made their decisions based on what they found in the suspect’s car, not because of any plan or threat directed at our school or against the district,” Wipke wrote.
The incident began about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, when a Fox High employee spotted Lockwood in the vehicle, along with a rifle and other “suspicious items,” and contacted Arnold Police.
After Arnold Police detained Lockwood, federal authorities and the St. Louis Regional Bomb and Arson Unit were called to the scene, and they seized the weapons and other items, Arnold Police reported.
The federal authorities also seized the items found in Lockwood’s home, according to the report.
The case was then turned over to the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
John Ham, an ATF spokesman, said Lockwood was still in federal custody this afternoon.
Wipke said in his letter that authorities asked district officials to cancel Tuesday evening activities at Fox High School.
Then, classes were called off today because of inclement weather this morning.
Ham said the investigation is still underway.
Wipke praised the “vigilance and attentiveness” of the Fox School District staff.
“We knew about this situation due to the watchful eye of an employee and his quick work to follow district policy and safety procedures by reporting it to appropriate personnel,” Wipke said. "We are committed to continuing to focus on quality safety practices in order to keep our staff and students safe. The safety and security of our students, staff and the security of our buildings remains top priority.”