TOWNSEND — North Middlesex Regional School District Superintendent Brad Morgan and Townsend Police Chief James Sartell report that spent shell casings were found in a bathroom at North Middlesex Regional High School on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, at approximately 2 p.m., a staff member at North Middlesex Regional High School found two casings from a small caliber handgun while cleaning the boys locker room adjacent to the gymnasium.
The staff member immediately informed Principal Tim McMahon, who called Townsend Police.
Townsend Police took custody of the shell casings, and contacted the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council School Threat Assessment and Response System (STARS) team.
School administration, Townsend Police, and representatives of the STARS team will search the locker room and school for any additional inappropriate items before students return to school on Wednesday.
Students are not in school on Tuesday due to election day, and only staff were in the building for professional development. Scheduled sports practices were canceled.
How the casings got into the school remains under investigation by police and school administration.
“Students were not in the building on Tuesday, and I want to assure parents and community members that the school will be thoroughly searched before students return on Wednesday,” said Superintendent Morgan. “The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and we are taking all precautions to ensure there is no threat at the school.”
Townsend Police plan to have an additional presence at the school on Wednesday as a precautionary measure, and to help keep students and staff at ease.