Norwich — Three city schools were placed in lockdown from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday morning after a suspicious person "who could intend harm" was seen approaching the Moriarty Environmental Sciences Magnet School, according to Superintendent Kristen Stringfellow who informed staff and parents of all schools of the incident. 

Police Sgt. Chris Merrill said a Moriarty School employee saw a person walking on School Street toward Old Canterbury Turnpike and Lawler Lane with what appeared to be a rifle slung over a shoulder. Police searched the area and did not find anyone meeting the description of the report. The school is located at at 20 Lawler Lane.

City schools are in remote learning this week due to the COVID-19 red alert for the city, but staff and some special education students were in schools.

Stringfellow said a Moriarty school official called 911 and Norwich police responded with about 25 officers, including supervisors and Chief Patrick Daley. Sgt. Merrill said the heavy police response was out of concern that the person might have been on school property.

Stringfellow placed Moriarty school and the nearby Wequonnoc School in Taftville and the Kelly STEAM Magnet Middle School in lockdown.

Moriarty teachers, staff and a few students in the school for testing were sheltered in place in the gym with police officers, Stringfellow said.

About 11 a.m., the lockdown was lifted at all three schools. Staff at Moriarty school were sent home for the day and instructed to return tomorrow, Stringfellow said.

Remote sessions at Moriarty were canceled for the rest of the day, along with today's food service pick up, Stringfellow said. People were advised to stay away from the school building as police continued to investigate. 

Stringfellow said she was grateful for the rapid response from the police department and school staff.

"I am extremely proud of our Moriarty school team for swiftly moving into their school safety protocol and I am thankful that everyone is safe," she said in a statement.