Holyoke High School
Holyoke High School Credit: GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

HOLYOKE — A 911 call reporting a firearm at Holyoke High School Thursday afternoon led to an hourslong lockdown and police response, according to Police Chief Brian Keenan.

Shortly before 1 p.m., Keenan wrote in a public statement, police received a call mentioning that “someone had a firearm” inside the high school. Officers responded to the school, which was put on lockdown.

At approximately 2 p.m., Keenan reported that there was “no immediate threat to the public or the students,” adding that it was “unclear” if the incident was a false report, otherwise known as “swatting.”

“Officers will continue to investigate until the school is completely cleared and the source and/or location of the call is identified,” Keenan wrote. “The Holyoke Police will continue to provide updates to our families as we receive more information.”

Anthony Cammalleri covers the City of Northampton for the Daily Hampshire Gazette. He previously served as the Greenfield beat reporter at the Greenfield Recorder and began his career covering breaking...