Extra police presence at East Hampton schools after active shooter threat

EAST HAMPTON, Conn. (WTNH) — There’s some relief this morning in East Hampton following concerns about a possible active shooter at the middle school. Lockdowns have been lifted, however, police will be adding extra patrols to make students and staff feel safe.

Four schools were placed into lockdown as a result of the active shooter investigation on Tuesday. Police are still trying to locate the suspect in connection to this ordeal.

The police chief said the report of an active shooter at the Middle School came in around 12:30 Tuesday afternoon.

When police arrived, they encountered a woman outside the middle school who told them a relative may be hiding in the school with the intent of shooting people. That prompted a systematic search of the Middle School and then the High School. Both were put in a code red lockdown and soon the two elementary schools were as well.

They believe that person knew students at the middle school.

There will be a police presence at those four schools today.

Here’s more from the East Hampton Police Chief on the investigation.

“Once the primary areas of the school had been searched we then went door to door opening up the locked doors with our master keys and ensuring everyone in the classroom was accounted for and all the teachers were safe and no additional person was in the classroom,” said Police Cheif Dennis Woessner.

Police believe mental health could have played a factor.

The investigation continues.

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