Todd Beamer High School was placed on lockdown for an hour this morning, the second day of school.

Federal Way Public Schools said the external lockdown, from 7:50-9 a.m., was due to police activity in the area and that students and staff were not in danger.

Cathy Schrock with the Federal Way Police Department said the lockdown was done because police were searching for a suicidal 17-year-old, a former Todd Beamer student.

“Yesterday afternoon, there was a call into our front desk from a counselor regarding a 17-year-old student who suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts and tendencies,” Schrock said.

The counselor and officer had a conversation centered on problem solving and the best course of action.

However, when the same officer came in this morning, Schrock said there was a late telephone message from the counselor who indicated the boy made more statements about suicide and that maybe he would die at the school.

“From a law enforcement perspective, when a person is making comments about hurting themselves or others, they suggest an involuntary commitment,” Schrock said.

Federal Way police officers tried to locate him and suggested the external lockdown in case he may have been at the school. They found the boy at a friend’s house and transported him for a mental evaluation.

“The student was never on campus today, but we wouldn’t have known that until we went through the proper channels,” Schrock said, adding that the school district will likely be sending out something in writing to parents later on.

District officials said parents and guardians should have received updates through their automated phone messaging system or could find them at www.fwps.org or www.facebook.com/fwps210.