Active shooter reported at Sanford High one of several such hoaxes across Maine

Parents concerned over the safety of their children wait anxiously at Sanford Memorial Gym this morning. (Rochester Voice photos)

SANFORD - State Police have confirmed that today's active shooter incident at Sanford High School was a hoax, but many anxious parents did not know that until late this morning when the busses started rolling into a parking lot adjacent to the Sanford Memorial Gymnasium on Main Street.

Even as The Rochester Voice arrived at the gym around 9:20 a.m. police were telling awaiting parents to stay back on the sidewalk, and that it was still an "active shooter" incident.

Two police officers, one carrying an automatic rifle confer outside Sanford Memorial Gym during today's active shooter incident, which turned out to be a hoax.

Many of the waiting parents were distraught, some weeping, not knowing whether the incident was over or not.

"My son texted me at 8:30 a.m.," said one fretful woman. "He said, 'Mom, it's not a drill, it's real. I love you.'"

During the time of uncertainty there were rumors running rampant through the

Students roll slowly by Sanford Memorial Gym headed to a parking lot where they got and entered the gym to make sure all were accounted for before releasing them to their parents.

crowd that two adult males had done the shooting and that five students were seriously hurt, none of which was true.

One person who said she had inside knowledge of safety protocols said "once an active shooter incident is identified, law enforcement agencies stay strict to the script" and follow all protocols through to resolution.

Sanford High has an enrollment of more than 1,000 students, so it was an extra long caravan traveling from Sanford High to the gym. Buses from other school systems assisted in the transport.

Some of the students gave the thumbs-up, waved or smiled as they rolled slowly by the gym.

State Police say Sanford was not the only school shaken by the threat.

Many parents were visibly shaken not knowing for certain whether they're child was safe.

"Multiple active shooter threats have been made at schools throughout the state," said State Police Spokesperson Shannon Moss.

During a press conference this morning on Alumni Boulevard near the high school, Sanford Police Lt. Matthew Gagne said the incident began at 8:20 a.m. when the "active shooter" call came in from someone who said they were a teacher and were locked in a staff room.
Shortly after 9 a.m. safety officials realized it was a hoax.

Once the threat was made, local law enforcement agencies including State Police swarmed Sanford High School. which was systematically evacuated. The Maine Information Analysis Center (MIAC) is heavily involved in coordinating these investigations.

The FBI, State and Sanford Police are all investigating the hoaxes, which were also carried out in Belfast, Portland and Gardiner.

Moss said 10 Maine schools received threats, but they are not naming the schools, leaving that up to the individual districts and local law-enforcement agencies. Sanford High was the first school targeted, said Moss , who added that the Maine Information Analysis Center (MIAC) continues to investigate the source of these threats.

She added there could be federal charges for the person or persons responsible.