Suicidal threat puts school on lockdown, police arrest South Hadley man

HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) – A South Hadley man was arrested Thursday afternoon after a suicidal threat, which briefly placed a local school on lockdown.

According to South Hadley Police, at approximately 1:50 p.m., police received a 911 call from the man, who threatened to kill himself and expressed a desire to “die by police.” He also warned that he would shoot any officers who approached him. The call was traced to the parking lot of the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School on Mulligan Way.

Police reported the man seemed to be in an agitated state both inside and outside his vehicle. Maintaining a safe distance, officers established a perimeter around the school. Although PVPA was not in session, school administrators were present, leading to a precautionary lockdown of the facility.

The man returned to his vehicle, drove aggressively toward a police cruiser, and then left the scene which led to a police chase into Hadley,

With additional assistance from Granby Police, Massachusetts State Police, and Hadley Police, the chase ended on Route 9 in Hadley when the suspect’s vehicle collided with two other cars due to traffic congestion. The suspect then left on foot but was apprehended by South Hadley Police after a brief chase.

The suspect, a 25-year-old man from South Hadley, was taken into custody without any injuries to himself, officers, or other motorists.

According to South Hadley Chief of Police Jennifer Gundersen, the suspect has no known connection to the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School. Chief Gundersen praised the quick and professional response of all the involved agencies, noting their effective handling of a potentially dangerous situation.

The incident remains under investigation and we will provide updates as soon as they become available.

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