FBI To Assist Police In Norwalk High Threat Investigation: UPDATE

NORWALK, CT — The FBI will assist Norwalk police in their investigation into a series of threats reported at Norwalk High School over the past week, two of which were later determined to be hoaxes.

In a news release, Police Lt. Joe Dinho said officers were notified Wednesday of a threat reported at Norwalk High School around 1:30 p.m. Police quickly secured the facility and placed the school on lockdown while officers investigated.

The building was searched and cleared, and students were later dismissed from school around 2:45 p.m. Students at Naramake Elementary School and Nathan Hale Middle School were also asked to remain in their classrooms until dismissal as a precautionary measure, Dinho said.

In a post on the Norwalk Public Schools Facebook page, district officials said prior to their safe dismissal, students and staff at Norwalk High and P-TECH Norwalk were told to remain in their classrooms after the district was notified of a potential threat involving a gun at the school.

Dinho said police will continue to investigate the incident and have enlisted the assistance of the FBI to determine the source of the threat, which is believed to be related to a similar incident last week.

"The incident was handled calmly and efficiently thanks to the cooperation of school staff and students," Chief of Police Thomas Kulhawik said in a news release. "The increase in police presence will continue."

Wednesday's incident marks the third time in a week a threat has been reported at Norwalk High School. The previous two threats were later deemed hoaxes by police.

See also: Hoax Bomb Threat Leads To Norwalk High School Evacuation

• 'Hoax' Threat Locks Down Norwalk High School: Police

The school was briefly evacuated the morning of Dec. 1 following an alleged bomb threat. According to Police Sgt. Sofia Gulino, officers and police canine bomb detection teams quickly entered the building and checked for suspicious items before the building was deemed safe and everyone was allowed back inside.

On Friday, the school was locked down with multiple officers present inside the building after receiving a threat that was later deemed to be a hoax, according to police.

Mayor Harry Rilling thanked Norwalk police for responding and investigating to each incident recently reported at the school.

"Please know we are going to utilize all available resources, including state and federal law enforcement agencies, to determine the origins of these threats. This behavior is dangerous and it will not be tolerated," Rilling said in a statement. "I am thankful these incidents have been hoaxes, but I understand the stress, anxiety and potential trauma this is causing our students, staff, families and community."

Rilling noted the city's Community Services Department is working closely with Norwalk Public Schools to ensure appropriate support systems are in place.

Superintendent Alexandra Estrella said the district's technology team is working closely with the Norwalk police and the FBI to support their investigation.

"We hope this work leads to identifying the individual responsible for this chain of events," Estrella said in a statement. "We will continue to have our district crisis team available to support our students and staff. This includes counselors, social workers and psychologists, as well as staff from Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance and Family & Children's Agency."

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact Norwalk police at 203-854-3000 or by the following means:

• Contacting the Norwalk Police Tip Line at 203-854-3111.
• Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to the Norwalk police website at www.norwalkpd.com.
• Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing "NORWALKPD" into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to TIP411 (847411).