By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
CLAREMONT, N.H. — Four Stevens High School students were taken into custody and are now facing expulsion after they made a Snapchat post that showed them inside the school with a gun, which would up being fake.
According to Deputy Chief Christopher Allen, on Feb. 11 at 12:56 p.m., the Claremont Police Department was notified by Stevens High School staff of a student, or students, believed to be armed with a handgun. He said that a concerned student saw a video released on a social media platform that showed the gun in the school. The student told the principal who then called the police, and a lockdown was put into effect.
“The school was placed on lockdown,” a prepared statement by the Claremont Police stated. “Other Claremont schools were secured out of an abundance of caution. Claremont Police officers, accompanied by numerous other law enforcement partners, responded to the school and conducted a thorough search of the building.”
Allen said that the officers entered the school and they located the four minors and put them into custody. They did not attempt to flee, but Allen would not confirm where they were found in the school. Superintendent Chris Pratt’s letter to parents said that law enforcement located the students “who were not in lockdown” and one of them was in possession of the BB gun.
“They were detained and brought to the police department, and parents were notified,” Allen said.
The students were found with one fake firearm that Allen said was a “realistic looking pistol” like a BB gun.
“It definitely appeared to be a real gun and that is why the student told the principal, who then called 911,” Allen said.
Police conducted a “meticulous room to room search” before the lockdown was released. Before the students were released, staff members debriefed staff and students about what had occurred.
Pratt sent out a letter to the Stevens High School community on Tuesday afternoon saying that within minutes law enforcement officials arrived to conduct a thorough sweep. The lockdown was lifted at 1:45 p.m.
“I want to take this opportunity to commend the administration, faculty, staff, and students at Stevens High School for executing the lockdown procedures flawlessly,” Pratt said. “Their quick thinking and adherence to protocol ensured the safety of all students and staff. Additionally, I extend my deepest gratitude to all responding law enforcement agencies for their swift response and for resolving the situation as efficiently as they did.”
There were cruisers with blue emergency lights on outside of Stevens High School and parents started to receive text alerts as follows throughout Tuesday.
“SAU#6 friends,
This message is to inform you that Stevens High School has had a threat of violence and the School has gone into Lockdown. As a result, the Claremont Middle School and the Tech Center have also been placed in Lockdown. The three elementary schools have been put into shelter in place.”
“SAU#6 Dear Parents/Guardians,
There was an incident at Stevens High School this afternoon. All students are safe and nobody was injured. Some students were found at Stevens with a BB gun. The school went into lockdown, police were called and are sweeping the school as a safety precaution.
SAU#6 More information will follow as we learn it, but please know that all students are safe.”
Allen said if this had been a real weapon there could have been dire consequences. However, he commended the students and staff at the school for following the protocol they have trained for.
“We were acting under the assumption that it was a real gun until they were taken into custody,” Allen said. “I really appreciated the staff and students acting in a manner they have practiced during this real incident. Everybody did the right thing and followed directions, and at the end of the day it made it much easier to secure the scene. It was the best ending we could ask for in a situation like this.”
This is the second time this school year that Stevens High School has had a threat of violence made by a student, with the other incident coming in October and caused the school to close.
Pratt said he fully recognizes that these are extremely stressful situations, and that he takes the safety of students and staff very seriously. He is actively exploring additional measures to enhance security in the district, as well as punish those involved in Tuesday’s incident to the utmost degree.
“As soon as I was able, I worked to inform the public about the lockdown and to confirm that all students and staff were safe,” Pratt said. “Moving forward, all students involved in this incident will be brought before the board for expulsion proceedings, and some may also face criminal charges.”
The Claremont Police Department and Claremont School District are working collaboratively on the investigation.
The Claremont Police Department was assisted by Charlestown Police Department, Claremont Fire Department, Cornish Police Department, Golden Cross Ambulance, Inc., New Hampshire State Police, Newport Police Department, Plainfield Police Department and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office.
Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Trevor Dickerman at 603-542-7010.
