Authorities are investigating an alleged sexual assault of a student at Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor and took a male student into custody.
Homewood-Flossmoor District 233 officials told families Tuesday they are cooperating with Flossmoor police on the investigation.
Flossmoor police said Tuesday they were called to the school, 999 Kedzie Ave., Monday and were told a female student reported she was assaulted in the building earlier that day.
Police took the male student to the police station, but he was then released to the custody of his father while the investigation continues, police said.
The department said detectives are working with school administrators and families of the two students.
The alleged assault occurred as students in the school’s theater department worked in small breakout groups to rehearse lines, according to the statement from Superintendent Scott Wakeley and Principal Clinton Alexander. The incident did not occur in a classroom, they said.
“We are all feeling a variety of emotions, including shock, sadness, and anger,” they told families.
The officials said the police investigation will include interviews with the students and possible witnesses, and that District 233 notified the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
“Care is taken to ensure that the legal rights of all students are respected, along with their emotional and physical needs,” they said.
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They asked that anyone with information about the incident contact Flossmoor police at 708-957-4500.
“We understand that members of our community want details and answers immediately. However, we must allow an investigation and law enforcement process to take place. We also must respect the legal privacy rights of the minors involved,” Wakeley and Alexander wrote.