'Hoax Threat': Danvers Police Officer Fires Gun In St. John's Prep 'Swatting' Response

DANVERS, MA — St. John's Prep of Danvers school officials said the school was the target of an apparent hoax on Monday afternoon after a report of an active shooter escalated when Danvers Police Chief James Lovell said there was an accidental shot fired from a responding town officer's gun during a search of one of the school buildings.

"We believe that St. John's was the victim of a 'swatting' call," St. John's Prep posted on its website about 3 p.m. "Everyone is safe, there have been no injuries and police are currently clearing campus buildings as we account for all students."

State police Monday afternoon said that "no threats were detected" as they conducted sweeps of the Danvers private school following reports of an active shooter shortly before 2 p.m.

"Threat of a shooter has been confirmed to be a hoax," State Police said in what they termed their "final update" at about 4:30 p.m. "All search teams secure from the school. Investigation ongoing to determine the source of the hoax threat."

Danvers Communications Manager Jen Breaker said Monday afternoon that police were investigating the initial "swatting" report when a second report of "a firearm discharge by one of the responding officers elevated the situation from a normal swatting response to an actual active shooter situation."

Lovell said police were looking to determine the reason for the accidental discharge of the officer's weapon in a middle school bathroom.

"We want to acknowledge the immense amount of fear and angst this caused students, staff members, families and first responders," Danvers police said in a statement Monday night. "We ask that you all check in on one another and support each other after an extremely stressful and unsettling experience for our community."

Classes and all after-school activities were canceled for Tuesday and scheduled to resume on Wednesday.

Head of School Ed Hardiman told reporters Monday afternoon that the school was looking to account for all students on campus earlier in the day after some fled into the nearby woods following the active shooter reports, while others stayed in the school and were then taken under the tent used for the school commencement on Saturday.

State Police updated that as of 2:30 p.m., students were being allowed out of the buildings and that they were being shuttled and directed to the Stop & Shop at 301 Newbury Street where parents could pick them up.

"The swift and professional response from the Danvers Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police, and our regional public safety partners to this potentially tragic situation made it possible clear the large campus in less than one hour," Breaker said in a statement. "Our deepest gratitude to area agencies for their response. We also commend the St. John's Prep administration for their composure and cooperation as the situation unfolded.

"Their leadership in the face of chaos made a difference."

The active-shooter report in Danvers came on the same day that an apparent "swatting" hoax threat was made against Boston College High School in Dorchester, and two weeks after a similar hoax threat was investigated at St. John's of Shrewsbury.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)