Tolland High Student Charged in Connection With School Lockdown

A Tolland teenager has been charged in connection with March 25th lockdown at Tolland High School and the discovery of an airsoft pellet gun in the student’s locker.

The unidentified 16-year-old Tolland High student was charged Monday with breach of peace and threatening, according to Connecticut State Police records. The juvenile is scheduled to appear in Rockville Juvenile Court on April 2.

According to police and school officials, the high school went into a brief lockdown on Monday afternoon after several students reported to school officials that a group of "boys" from Manchester were en route to the school, possibly with guns. An investigation into the claim caused police to charge the unidentified Tolland juvenile after discovering a pellet gun in his locker.

In a separate incident the following day, March 26th, police charged the same student with second-degree harassment with intent to intimidate and disorderly conduct after they received a complaint about various text messages sent by the teen, according to police. The teen is scheduled to appear on April 2 in juvenile court on those charges, also, according to police.

School officials have tried to assure the community that THS is safe for students, teachers and staff. Superintendent of Schools William Guzman said that the district takes safety seriously and is making attempts to increase security, including the possibility of sharing a School Resource Officer with the Region 19 high school, E.O. Smith in Mansfield, and discussing have one of the town Resident State Troopers spend time at the THS campus each day.