Shots Fired At Mount Vernon High School: Police

MOUNT VERNON, NY —Public Safety Commissioner Glenn Scott and Mount Vernon Police Chief Marcel Olifiers confirmed that at least three gunshots fired at Mount Vernon High School briefly forced the school into a lockdown and led to an early dismissal on Monday afternoon.

Chief Olifiers said a report of shots fired came in at 2:28 p.m. He said three shell casings were found.

There are no injuries reported as a result of the gunfire. School was placed on lockdown and classes were dismissed early.

"After the police got here and secured the scene, more officers were called up to the surrounding areas as well as our county and federal partners were called to come to the scene to aid in the investigation and the subsequent dismissal of the school," Olifiers said in a brief video statement about the shooting incident. "Dismissal happened shortly after 3:00 p.m. and it was very smooth."

In a statement, Mount Vernon Schools Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton said the shots came from a passing car. He said security cameras captured footage of a dark grey Mercedes-Benz believed to have been involved.

In September, a similar incident caused alarm on campus.

On Sept. 14, shortly before 3:30 p.m., Mount Vernon police answered a report of shots fired on California Road near Mount Vernon High School. Officers spoke with witnesses who said the shots were fired from a passing vehicle. Surveillance video showed parts of the shooting, which appeared to involve at least two vehicles.

Detectives located one vehicle that was struck by the gunfire. Investigators are attempting to interview witnesses to the broad daylight gun play that occurred as classes were letting out for the day just a few hundred feet away.

SEE ALSO: Shots Fired Near Mount Vernon HS At Dismissal Time: Police

Anyone with information about the Monday afternoon incident is asked to contact the Mount Vernon Detective Division at 914-665-2510.