New Haven police arrest teen for having a knife amid search for suspicious bag at school

NEW HAVEN, CT (WFSB) - A New Haven School was locked down on Tuesday after officials received reports of a suspicious bag, possibly with a gun.

School officials later confirmed that the Co-Operative Arts & Humanities High School on College Street would dismiss for the day:

A New Haven School was locked down on Tuesday after officials received reports of a suspicious bag, possibly with a gun.

The school was locked down at approximately 9 a.m.

Police responded immediately and officers conducted a search of the building.

New Haven’s Mayor, Police Chief & Emergency Management Director are outside of Cooperative Arts & Humanities HS on College St. School is in lockdown after a report of a student with a gun. That report has not been confirmed but police and K9 are inside the school searching. pic.twitter.com/sA0V61Fx1M
— Matt McFarland (@MattMcFarland3) May 23, 2023

New Haven police Chief Karl Jacobson said that video showed some kind of a bag left in front of a door.

Police spoke with students who saw it. Officers searched for it.

The bag was recovered, but there was nothing in it.

What they did find during the search, however, was that a 14-year-old student had a knife. The student was immediately arrested and charged with possession of a dangerous weapon.

Extra police were at the school on Wednesday, police said. School officials has been speaking with police about increased resources going forward.

Social workers were also on hand.

“The police department and school officials will continue to investigate the incident and appropriate charges will be brought against any student involved,” New Haven police said in a news release. “The safety and wellbeing of our students and staff is our top priority, and we are grateful for the quick and effective response of the school security officers and law enforcement officials.”

Jacobson and New Haven Public Schools superintendent Keisha Redd-Hannans said they were going to take a closer look at school safety measures.

“We have metal detectors in our schools, we have cameras and will review to look for any gaps in practices and make those improvements,” Redd-Hannans said.

“We’ll have further resources over a period of time to make sure parents feel that their kids are safe,” Jacobson said. “We’re going to look at all of our policies and look for any gaps. There was a gap today and now we’re going to fix it.”

No other information was immediately available.

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