Stamford

Several Schools Across CT Have Received Non-Credible Threats Friday: Police

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Several schools across Connecticut have received non-credible threats on Friday, according to several police departments across the state.

Windsor Locks police said there was a swatting situation at Windsor Locks Middle School and everyone is safe.

The caller reported that several people had been shot. Police responded within a minute and determined the call was a false alarm.

Several nearby schools were in lockdown because of the incident. Police responded to the elementary and high schools as a precaution. Detectives are investigating the incident.

Enfield police said they received a call just before 10:30 a.m. that there was an "active incident” at Enfield High School with multiple students reportedly injured.

Nothing suspicious was found and police determined there is no threat to students at Enfield High School and there have been no reports of incidents at any of the other Enfield schools.

East Hartford schools also received a swatting call and it impacted East Hartford High School, according to school officials.

A lockdown was put in place at 10:13 a.m., police investigated and the lockdown was lifted around 10 minutes later.

Wallingford Public Schools said police received a call regarding an active incident at Sheehan High School. It was determined to be a false report and authorities said students and staff were never in any danger.

Police responded to the school and are investigating.

Groton police said they received a phone call alerting them of an active shooter at the high school at 10:13 a.m. and determined it was likely swatting and there was no threat.

The call appeared to be a recording and police have not determined where the call came from.

Officers responded to the area of Fitch High School, Groton Middle School, and Grasso Southeastern Technical School, all schools were placed in lockdown protocols, which were lifted a short time later.

Police in Norwich said they received a call reporting an active shooter incident at Norwich Technical High School. Responding officers said they quickly responded and determined it was a false alarm.

The school was in lockdown as officers searched the school.

The Darien Police Department said it is aware of several non-credible threats made to schools throughout Fairfield County and Darien officers will be present and monitoring all Darien schools for the rest of the day.

The threats come on the day that police departments from across Connecticut as well as police departments from across the country attend a funeral in East Hartford for two Bristol police officers who were shot and killed in an ambush-style attack in Bristol last week.

Westport also received what it believes was a swatting call.

The call came at 9:10 a.m. reporting that there was an active shooter inside Staples High School. 

The school resource officer said there was no indication of a problem at the location, but the high school was placed on lock down and the police department proceeded as if there was an active threat.

Officers checked the entire school and determined there was no shooter. 

Out of an abundance of caution, officers will be stationed at all of Westport’s schools for the remainder of the day.

The detective bureau has assumed control of the investigation and are looking to identify the caller.

Stamford High School received a false report notification of a threat of an active shooter in the building at 8:55 a.m., according to officials.

The school was immediately put on lockdown and the Stamford Police Department responded and all protocols were followed by staff and students, Stamford officials said.

They said all necessary precautions were taken and in an abundance of caution, Stamford Police made the decision to lock down all Stamford Public schools until the threat was vetted.

During the process of notifying all district-wide schools, the original incident was deemed a hoax and the district-wide lockdown was lifted at 9:11 a.m., Stamford officials said.

The lockdown at Stamford High School was lifted at 9:30 a.m.

Stamford officials said the Stamford Police Department had been notified that other Fairfield County school districts received similar threats this morning.

"Although this was deemed a hoax, an active investigation is underway to identify the person or persons responsible for this disruption. The Stamford Police Department has been notified that other Fairfield County school districts received similar threats this morning. We were advised they are continuing their investigation with the other communities affected, and will consult with the FBI, if necessary, for assistance," a statement from Stamford officials said.

They said social workers are available for anyone who would like to talk about this or have any additional concerns.

Bridgeport officials said 911 received a swatting call about an active shooter at Harding High School and these calls are happening all over the state and the country.

Willimantic Police said they were called to Windham High School for a reported active threat. Responding officers said there wasn't any threat and the school was placed in lockdown as a precaution.

Windham Public Schools also went into a shelter in place order.

Willimantic and Eastern CT State University police searched the high school building and campus. They found nothing suspicious.

Police said the high school had an early dismissal and no class time was disrupted as a result of the incident.

Connecticut Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action issued a statement on the swatting incidents.

“When we send our kids to school, we shouldn’t have to wonder whether or not they’ll come home safe,” said Meredith Magee, a volunteer with the Connecticut chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Even though today’s incident turned out to be a false alarm, the fear and trauma were real. We have some of the strongest gun safety laws in the country, but we must continue to work proactively to get guns off the streets so we don’t have to live with this constant uncertainty.” 

The organization also stressed that the fake 911 calls were made "during a time when thousands of police from around the state and country were attending the funeral of two Bristol police officers."

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