Lockdown lifted at Northeast Metro Tech in Wakefield

WAKEFIELD, Mass. — A Massachusetts school was put on lockdown Monday morning after a student saw an alleged threat on social media.

Officials later learned the threat was made against a school in Maryland with a similar name.

"The nature of the threat was a shooter and that the party was going to come to the school and shoot up the school," said Wakefield Police Chief Rick Smith.

Police put the 1,250 students at Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical High School on lockdown around 10:30 Monday morning.

"Our superintendent went on the loudspeaker and said this is not a drill, so we moved into another location, shut the lights off and locked doors," said student Kianna Ricci.

Multiple messages were blasted out to parents:

"We are still in precautionary lockdown. All students are safe. There is no threat in the building."

While the lockdown was in place, investigators determined the school mentioned in the threat was actually a school in Maryland - with a similar name.

Officials are getting ready to give an update regarding a threat a student saw on social media.

Northeast Metro Tech in Wakefield was put on lockdown Monday morning after a student reported seeing a threat on social media referencing the school's name.

Wakefield police say there was no danger at either school.

"I was kinda nervous but after awhile we all just calmed down," said student Owen Halley.

Many parents waited anxiously for hours and were finally able to see their children after the lockdown was lifted.

"I think they did a great job sending out all the voicemails to all the parents. I think it was more stressful you know waiting for him. But I'm glad everything worked out great," said Christine Halley, Owen's mother.

Chief Smith says school will be back open on Tuesday and they will have extra officers on hand to help ease any concerns.

Cox Media Group