Why Watson Elementary Was On Lockdown This Afternoon

Police have issued a statement as to why they placed Watson Elementary School in Fall River on lockdown earlier this afternoon.

The lockdown had initially begun as a precautionary measure as police searched for a person suspected of criminal activity in the area of the school. Now a statement from the Fall River Police Department says,

Investigating officers developed information that the suspect may be in the Pleasant Street-Eastern Avenue area of the city. While a contingent of officers were searching the neighborhood for the suspect, to include yards that about the Watson School, other officers and Watson School Staff locked down the school."

The statement went on to read,

The Fall River Police Department and school officials did this in the interest of precaution only. At no time was the school, it’s staff or any children in danger. Further, the area was searched to no avail; and the Fall River Police Department has moved to another neighborhood of the city in search of the suspect."

Police did stay at the school during dismissal to relay to parents that the lockdown measure was precautionary. They say that the "parents have been great and we thank them."