Stamford High School was placed on lockdown for nearly an hour early Wednesday afternoon after a safety concern involving a student was reported to school officials.
Kathleen Steinberg, a Stamford school district spokesperson, said in a statement that officials initiated the lockdown protocol “as a precautionary measure while the School Resource Officers investigated a reported safety issue.”
The lockdown began at 1:05 p.m. and ended at 1:55 p.m. after the Stamford Police Department determined there was “no credible threat.” No arrests were made, according to Steinberg.
Board of Education President Andy George said he was notified promptly of the emergency as it was happening early Wednesday afternoon. He said he was not at liberty to elaborate on the reported safety issue since it involved a minor student but emphasized that officials determined no one was in danger.
“Initially there seemed to be a threat, and then when the police and school resource officers investigated, it was determined there was no threat,” George said.
Parents were quickly alerted that a lockdown was in progress by Principal Matt Forker via the district’s emergency alert system. In his message, Forker said the lockdown was prompted by “a safety report that needed further investigation.”
A second message confirming the emergency was over went out approximately 20 minutes after the lockdown was lifted.
“Following a thorough investigation, our School Resource Officers and the Stamford Police Department have confirmed there was no credible threat to our students, staff, or campus,” Forker wrote. “We understand that the word ‘lockdown’ can be alarming. However, these protocols are initiated out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of our school community. These experiences, while stressful, reinforce our emergency preparedness and allow us to refine our safety procedures.”
Forker said he addressed students via loudspeaker prior to dismissal to reassure them that the building was secure. He said social workers would remain on hand to assist any students needing counseling or reassurance.
Wednesday’s lockdown follows several gun-related incidents connected to Stamford schools earlier this year. In September 2024, a Stamford High student was arrested for allegedly making a social media threat to “shoot up the school.” In 2023, the school was briefly locked down after a new staff member mistook a school resource officer for a possible armed intruder.
This story will be updated.