[Updated] Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford was under lockdown for several hours Friday after what police called an ‘odd automated message.’

Poilce allow parents inside Solomon Schechter following the lifting of a lockdown allegedly spurred by a suspicious message. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

By Ronni Newton

Update, 3:20 p.m.: 

An elementary school in Amherst, MA, received what appears to be a similar – or perhaps the exact same – automated message at the same time as the one received at Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford Friday morning.

The story was reported by a news station in Western Massachusetts.

According to Amherst Police’ website, the message received at Fort River Elementary School led police to investigate a suspicious incident. “The response was generated when a telephone call was received in the office indicating that the school should take emergency action as there may be a person with a weapon on campus. Working together, the staff and responding officers quickly determined that the school was secure and safe, and the children were returned to normal activities.
The ensuing investigation has revealed that the automated call originated in another state as the result of an incident that occurred at a different institution.”

Original Story:

A lockdown at Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford that was spurred by an apparent automated and suspicious message was lifted shortly after 1 p.m. following a complete search of the building and the campus by West Hartford Police.

“An odd automated message came to the school, and it was something we would treat as coming from a suspicious person,” West Hartford Police Captain Frank Fallon said while the school, which is located at 26 Buena Vista Rd., was still in lockdown. He did not have details about the message, which he had been told was pre-recorded, and said he had not personally heard it. NBC Connecticut reported just after 11 a.m., in a quote attributed to police, that the content of the message, which requested a reply of “okay” was: “This is not a drill. There is someone on campus with a weapon.”

“We have encountered nothing of concern, and everyone is safe. We are in the midst of a search now,” Fallon said.

Police complete a check of the roof of Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford following an alleged suspicious message. Photo credit: Ronni Newton

A crowd of parents were gathered across the street on the grounds of the West Hartford Art League. Some appeared anxious as they waited for information from the police about when they could pick up their children. Solomon Schechter serves grades Pre-K through 8, and although the elementary school grades aren’t dismissed until 3:30 p.m., the morning program for preschoolers ends at 12:45 p.m.

One of West Hartford resident Larry Cohen’s daughters teaches at Solomon Schechter, and two of his grandchildren are students at the school – one in Pre-K and the other in kindergarten. He heard about the lockdown from another of his daughters.

“She was informed that someone called in with a less-than-pleasant message,” Cohen said as he waited outside. Cohen said that he had originally attempted to reach the school from the rear entrance on Bridle Path Road, but had been turned away by several police officers with “large guns.”

Cohen said that his own children had also attended Solomon Schechter and that the family has at least a 30-year relationship with the school. He said that there have been some scares in the past, but feels that the school is “no safer or less safe than the public schools.

Security is tight and the building is very secure, Cohen said. “You’re not going to get into the student wing.”

As they headed into the school to pick up their children, some parents said that they had only found out about the lockdown through media reports.

Shortly after parents were allowed inside, Cohen and his son-in-law, Nery Cruz, walked out with 2-year-old Caleb. “He didn’t even realize anything,” Cruz said.

“Everybody’s fine. It’s par for the course in today’s world,” Cohen said.

After the lockdown was lifted, school resumed and Fallon said that students would be released at the regular time Friday afternoon.

Check back for additional details.

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