Update at 5:00 p.m.

A precautionary lockout at Simon Middle School and Hemphill Elementary Schools have been lifted after a pursuit of a stolen vehicle in the area by the Hays County Sheriff’s Office.

Lieutenant Todd Riffe said the pursuit started in San Marcos before the suspect made his way towards the campuses.

“The suspect is in custody,” Riffe said. “There was no danger to the school but we issued the lockout for safety purposes.”

Earlier 

Simon Middle School and Hemphill Elementary Schools are in a precautionary lockout due to a law enforcement investigation taking place outside of the campuses.

According to an email to all Simon and Hemphill parents and staff, local law enforcement is conducting an investigation in the vicinity of the schools to ensure no unauthorized individuals have entered the campuses.

Tim Savoy, Public Information Officer for the Hays Consolidated Independent School District, said the campuses went into a lockout at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday but not a lockdown.

During a lockout, the school can function normally on the inside, however, the perimeter is secured. Savoy said this means no one can enter or leave the buildings until the district receives the okay to do so.

“This is the standard response protocol we train for when we get a call from law enforcement,” Savoy said. “Everyone inside the building is safe and not in any danger.”

The district received a call at around 3:30 p.m. from local law enforcement to issue the lockout. It is unclear what led to the lockout being issued.

Because of this, students at both campuses may still be in the buildings. Simon Middle School’s dismissal was at 3:35 p.m. so all students from that campus are still there, Savoy said.

Hemphill Elementary School’s dismissal was at 2:55 p.m. so most of the faculty and student body were not on campus when the lockout was called. However, Savoy said some after school teachers and students may still be at campus.

This is a developing story and will be updated when more information is available.