Man Hunting Squirrels with Pellet Gun Triggers Farmington School Lockdown

Four Farmington schools were placed on lockdown Monday morning after police received reports of an active shooter.

The lockdown took place at about 9:30 a.m. Monday.

The Pioneer Press reported that Farmington police requested the lockdown at Farmington and Riverview elementary schools and Boeckman and Dodge middle schools.

The shooter turned out to be a Farmington man, frustrated by squirrels on his property, who took out his pellet gun and started shooting.

Neighbors, disturbed by the scene, reported an active shooter to police.

“The initial call was that there was a man outside with a rifle shooting off rounds,” said Sgt. Bob Sauter of the Farmington Police Department.

Farmington police confirmed the schools were put on lockdown as a precaution, but said the incident has since been cleared. Authorities say there was never any direct threat to the schools.

Image: Moyan Brenn via Flickr /Creative Commons