Earlier today, Mount Desert Island High School (MDIHS) in Maine went into lockdown following reports of a man with an AR outside the campus. The lockdown was initiated at approximately 9:30 a.m. after a call to the school prompted immediate safety protocols. Police and school officials acted swiftly, securing the campus and ensuring the safety of all students and staff.
Superintendent Mike Zboray sent an early message to families, stating that all students and staff were safe and that parents should not come to the school or attempt to call the office until the lockdown was lifted. He emphasized that lockdown and barricade procedures are implemented when there is an imminent threat of violence or gunfire, and that students remain in designated safe areas until cleared by law enforcement.
Law enforcement, including the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Police Departments, arrived on the scene within minutes. They implemented a heavy police and EMS presence while verifying the situation. By approximately 10 a.m., scanner traffic indicated that the threat was most likely a hoax, and officers were carefully checking the grounds to confirm the area was safe. Chief Kerns confirmed that students were gathered in the gym for accountability, which served as a unification location.
By 10:47 a.m., police reminded parents and caregivers not to enter the woods near the school while the area continued to be secured. Superintendent Zboray later provided an update that students would be released at 11:30 a.m. as scheduled for the early release day, while Swans Island students would take the 1:30 p.m. bus home. Students remained in the gym until Principal Haney officially dismissed them.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the origin of the call and ensure all safety measures are in place. All students and staff at MDIHS followed proper lockdown procedures, and no injuries or incidents occurred. The school and police departments thanked the community for their cooperation and patience during the incident.
Mount Desert Island High School remains committed to student safety, and law enforcement will maintain a presence on campus as necessary.