Portland’s Police Chief Frank Clark said the Action is “reprehensible.” A Person of Interest Has Been Identified the Chief Said.

At approximately 9:40 am this morning, a single 911 call was received by the Portland Regional Communications Center, reporting an active shooter was in King Middle School.

Portland Police Officers responded and the School was put into lockdown.  A Maine State Trooper, working with Portland Police Department officers at the time of the call, also responded to the scene.  MedCU was also staged in the vicinity.

Officers, later accompanied by School staff, fully searched the School and did not find any indication of an active threat.  The lockdown was lifted at 10:45 am.  The situation has been deemed a swatting incident.  (A swatting is the action or practice of making a phone call to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police officers to a particular address). There were no injuries and everyone is safe.

“This reckless disregard for the safety and tranquility of our community’s students and staff, not to mention the broad diversion of critical emergency resources, is reprehensible,” said Chief Frank T. Clark.  “Our initial investigation has led to the detention of a person of interest and further supports the belief that an actual plan or threat against students or staff did not exist.  My thanks to school staff for their collaboration.”