NEW YORK CITY, NY – M544 Independence High School in Hell’s Kitchen went into a hard lockdown around 1 pm on Friday after reports of a student bringing a firearm into the premises.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) responded, deploying counterterrorism and K-9 units to the school located on 10th Avenue and W56th Street. By 3:30 pm, the lockdown was lifted.
Three weapons were discovered during the investigation: two firearms and a replica BB gun. No shots were fired during the incident. Chief of Patrol John Chell, during an NYPD press conference, mentioned that a family member had reported a 15-year-old student bringing a gun to school.
This led to the lockdown and subsequent evacuation of the building. Another firearm was found on a second student, and an imitation pistol on a third. The K-9 search of the school is still ongoing.
In response to the incident, the Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, David Banks, addressed concerns about the use of scanners in city schools.