DANVERS, MASS. (WHDH) - Classes were canceled at St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers on Tuesday, one day after authorities said an officer’s firearm accidentally went off while police were responding to what turned out to be a “swatting” hoax call.
The incident prompted a lockdown in the school and sent some students fleeing buildings as state and local police descended on the campus.
A day later, experts are reacting, sharing their perspective on what students and officers were dealing with as questions remain about the police response, how this incident happened and impacts on students.
“It’s awful,” said Dr. Gene Beresin, a doctor working in child and adolescent psychiatry. “What if you had to live through that in your workplace?”
Beresin works with young people going through trauma.
“It takes time to process it, to recover from it, to understand it and to manage the feelings,” he said on Tuesday.
Monday’s incident happened after police said they received a report of an active shooter at St. John’s Prep.
Police said officers were able to quickly determine that there didn’t seem to be a threat or active shooter. The situation escalated, though, when sources told 7NEWS a responding officer’s gun misfired in a bathroom in the school’s Benjamin Hall.
“If the all clear hasn’t been given at that time of the accidental discharge, its normal for the firearm to be out of the holster, in the low, ready position in case a threat presents itself,” said law enforcement analyst Todd McGhee.
Seeing so many police in what is considered a safe space scared many on Monday. And while no one was physically hurt, the emotional toll for those involved is real in the aftermath of this incident.
“Talk with friends,” Beresin said. “Talk with teachers. Talk with parents. Talk with other supports. Get a good night’s sleep. Get exercise. Get information but don’t get too much. Give yourself a break. Put the phone down.”
Monday’s incident remained under investigation as of Tuesday afternoon.
St. John’s Prep is offering counseling, in the meantime, as classes get set to resume on Wednesday. Learn more about resources to help children deal with trauma here.
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