Concord High School Temporarily Placed On Lockdown: Update

CONCORD, NH — Concord High School was temporarily placed on lockdown Monday to investigate a report of a student in possession of ammunition belt at the school. The school resource officer requested assistance from other officers around 1 p.m. after receiving a report from an administrator of a student wearing an ammunition belt. Interim Principal Michael Reardon placed the school on lockdown as a precaution.

That lockdown was quickly lifted after the school resource officer and other officers informed dispatch they had the situation under control and called off the additional units.

Det. Robert Buelte of the Concord Police Department confirmed to Patch the school was in lockdown and the department was dealing with the student not long after the lockdown was lifted. The student, a juvenile, was taken into custody about an hour later.

Franklin Bass, the interim superintendent of the Concord School District, said after an investigation of the incident, it was discovered the belt contained only spent shells.

"(The) principal followed school protocols and procedures dealing with the student in accordance with the Concord PD MOU," Bass stated in an email.

Reardon, in a phone call to parents, said the student was found asleep inside of a classroom by a teacher while wearing the ammunition belt around his waist. The teacher alerted Reardon to the situation and he placed the school in lockdown. The student was cooperative during the investigation, he added.

"Obviously, this was an extremely upsetting occurrence for students and faculty here at the school," Reardon stated in a phone call to parents. "In retrospect, no one in the school was in danger at any time."

Reardon said safety of the school community remained "our highest priority" and thanked the everyone for their support.

Buelte followed up with Patch stating that due to the involvement of a juvenile as well as the situation being an open investigation, only limited information would be released about the incident.

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