St. John's Prep in Danvers evacuated after shooting report, believed ...

DANVERS – A report of an active shooter at St. John's Prep in Danvers turned out to be a swatting hoax, but the police response was "ramped up" when an officer responding to the incident accidentally discharged their gun, authorities say.

No threat was found at the school of 1,450 students, and no one was hurt. But the frightening incident and sound of a gunshot sent students running from the building. 

"During the search process there was an accidental discharge of a firearm. . . that resulted in an increased response from area departments," Danvers Police Chief James Lovell said.

The officer was responding to a report of a threat in the men's room when the gun went off. No one else was in the bathroom when it happened, police said.

"We believe that St. John's was the victim of a Swatting call," the school informed parents Monday afternoon. "Everyone is safe, there have been no injuries and police are currently clearing campus buildings as we account for all students."

Police are working to identify who made the swatting call. Incidents of "swatting" have been spreading across the country recently, including Massachusetts in recent weeks. More than a dozen Greater Boston schools went on lockdown in mid-February, prompted by the same - or very similar - recorded 911 hoax calls.

"This is everybody's nightmare," Head of School Edward Hardiman said. "My message to our students underneath the tent was some of us are going to be OK, some of us are going to be really traumatized by what happened. It's our responsibility to reach out to each other, to support each other, to care for each other.

Students recalled the frightening moments.

"My teacher, great guy, immediately locked the door. He turned off the lights, he closed the shades. Everyone immediately got up and moved our desks. We did exactly what we were told to do in a situation like this," student Will Hayes told WBZ-TV.

For parents, it was a terrifying afternoon.

"To see the sixth graders in horror like that, is just not OK. We need protection of our schools," one woman said.

"It's never a good feeling when you get a phone call like that at work from your son running through the woods, frantically," added parent Bill Butler.

B.C. High in Dorchester also received a call Monday about an active shooter on campus, a school spokesperson told WBZ-TV. Police quickly investigated the threat and did not find anything. No students were on campus Monday, and staff were away at a retreat. 

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