ROCHELLE —Alert students are being credited with tipping off Rochelle Township High School officials about the possibility a gun had been brought into the school Wednesday morning.

After a few students told office personnel that they had heard a rumor about a gun in a locker, RTHS officials put the school in a soft lock down and contacted the Rochelle Police Department to investigate.

According to RTHS superintendent Jason Harper, who held a press conference at 1 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, the administration confined the students in question and determined quickly there was no present danger on campus.

Upon arrival to the school, officers met with school personnel and found that the weapon was an empty BB gun.

According to the Rochelle Police Department, two male juveniles were taken into custody and the incident remains under investigation.

"I want to commend the students who came forward when they heard discussion of a gun in the school," Harper said. "We were then able to get to the individuals, locate the BB gun and handle the situation quickly with the help of the Rochelle Police Department and Ogle County Sheriff's Office."

Harper explained that the soft lock down allowed RTHS to investigate the situation fully, while students were kept in their respective classrooms.

"We have two types of lock downs, a soft lock down and a hard lock down," Harper added at the press conference. "We run drills on these throughout the year and teachers and students did everything they have been trained to do."

Harper said that soft lock downs are used a different times throughout the school year for a variety of reasons to keep students out of the hallways and allow emergency personnel to do their work.

"We use a soft lock down if we were doing a locker sweep or sometimes if there is a medical emergency in the building and we need to give space and privacy to ambulance personnel and the person being treated," he explained. "Once everything was addressed, and both police and school officials felt we could safely resume our normal class day, we lifted the lock down."

RTHS School Board president Tom Huddleston, who was present at the press conference said that the board has recently been reviewing the safety and security protocol procedures at the school, and will continue to do so going forward.

Ogle County Sheriff Brian VanVickle, who is also an RTHS board member, said that over the past six years top-notch technology and security measures at the facility have been implemented.

"The bottom line is you have to have security, but its an ongoing education process," he stated. "I think we have as secure a school facility as any, while still allowing a normal school atmosphere for the kids."

Harper said the administration will continue to review security strategies at the school and they know this is a stressful time for students, staff and families.

"Student safety is our utmost concern and our goal is to provide both accurate and timely information to all stakeholders," he said. "RTHS followed its district safety plan today, and fortunately at no point were students or teachers in harm's way."

The male juveniles, ages 14 and 15, were charged with unlawful use of a weapon — a Class 2 felony — and disorderly conduct — a Class A misdemeanor. Both males were transported to the Kane County Juvenile Center.

The BB gun was found to be a CO2 powered pistol.