Conn. School Locked Down After 'Shots Fired' Report

NORWALK, Conn. -- Police rushed to Cranbury Elementary School Wednesday morning after hearing a report of shots being fired.

The school was put in lockdown as a precaution for about 45 minutes.

The lockdown was lifted after police completed a search of the area and found nothing suspicious.

According to Police Chief Thomas E. Kulhawik, police responded to a report of suspected gunshots in the vicinity of Cranbury School received at about 11:20. A teacher inside Cranbury School described what they believed may be gunshots from outside the school.

At this time police have discovered no evidence that shots were fired. The investigation is ongoing.

"Two officers were in the immediate vicinity and did not locate anything suspicious. Officers checked the area, canvassed individuals walking in the area as well as at Cranbury Park," Kulhawik said. "No other reports of shots were received. Officers continued to check the surrounding areas, including the trails in Cranbury Park. Nothing has been located to indicate shots were actually fired.

Kulhawik said a police presence at the school has been maintained through the afternoon to allay any fears or security concerns.

"Police are continuing to try and locate the specific cause of the sounds heard," Kulhawik said. "There is a construction project nearby that may have produced the noise that prompted concern, but police have not verified that this was the cause."

Kulhawik noted that although an emergency situation was not verified, the filing of the report and follow up activity including lockdown of the school exhibited appropriate response to a suspected emergency.

At 12:12 p.m., state Sen. Bob Duff tweeted: "Just spoke to the mayor. Everything is OK at Cranbury School. Someone heard something alarming at Cranbury Park. Police have not been able to corroborate info."

Nearly a dozen police cars responded to the report.

After the Dec. 14 shootings in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, security and police response has been increased at schools across the nation.