Crime & Safety

(Updated) Police: Charges Logged, CCSU Lockdown May Have Been A Halloween Costume Mishap

David Kyem, the son of CCSU Geography Professor Peter Kyem, is facing breach of peace charges after an incident that led to SWAT response and Connecticut State University on lockdown for nearly three hours.

Written by Jason Vallee and Paul Singley

Updated 8:44 p.m.

A Connecticut State University student is facing breach of peace charges and three who were in custody since released after police said he and too others started a series of events that ended in a significant lockdown at the university and two nearby elementary schools Monday. 

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CCSU officials have reported that David Kyem, son of CCSU Geography Professor Peter Kyem, is facing a charge of breach of peace. Two others who were taken into custody and have since been released, police confirmed. 

Kyem, 21,of Newington, is expected to be released on a $1,000 bond, police said. 

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The incident began just before noon after witnesses reported that Kyem had traveled from Stanley Street to campus with what appeared to be a samurai sword and possible handgun. The items are now believed to have been Halloween props. 

Update, 4:45 p.m. 

Campus police took three people into custody for questioning after multiple people reported a man with a sword and possibly a handgun running towards James Hall on the Central Connecticut State University campus Monday. 

The three have all been forthcoming with officers and no weapons were found in their possession after a complex response that included assistance from three SWAT teams from throughout the region, CCSU Police Chief Chris Cervoni said.

"The three were  located in James Hall on the fourth floor," Cervoni said. "The suspect was seen running, which caused alarm to several people who reported the incident. We are looking into whether it may be a Halloween costume."

New Britain Police Chief James Wardwell said the department recived emergency calls "from multiple students" who witnessed a man get off a bus on Stanley Street wearing camouflage and carrying what appeared to be a samurai sword, as well as a backpack and possibly a handgun. He then began walking, then running before heading to Jame Hall, a suite-style residence hall on the south side of campus. 

Wardwell said CCSU police were notified and several agencies mobilized SWAT units in response. CCSU took the lead on the investigation, he said.

The name of the man, who was located without incident along with two others as they were leaving a room, has not been released. No charges have been filed at this time, Cervoni said. 

Cervoni said video surveillance, including cameras monitoring the entrance to the dorms, was used to identify the suspect. The man is a CCSU student, he said, though he was unable to comment further on the two people with the man.

"We have them entering the building," he said. "I've received picture and there was what appeared to be a sword-like item as initially called in."

No injuries were reported and no threats made, police said. James Hall was evacuated floor by floor as part of the SWAT response. Nearby HALS Academy and Holmes Elementary schools were placed into a modified lockdown after the "campus emergency," according to officials. 

FBI and Homeland Security were also notified as part of the response. The lockdown was lifted around 3 p.m., after nearly three hours. It is believed the student should have received an alert but police said he did not immediately notify them he may be the suspect. 

Cervoni said the school will certainly look at the response to see if proper protocol is in place, a measure that occurs after any incident. 

Gov. Dannel Malloy praised the response, saying that state and local officials mobilized quickly and were able to create a safe barrier to protect others in case the event became violent. 

He said the incident also shows the importance of residents taking an active role in their safety. 

"While there was no act of violence today, the actions taken once these reports came in are exactly why it is so important to say something if you see something," Malloy said. "Unfortunately, incidents like these will occur, but today showed us the ideal way for them to conclude – with no one seriously harmed.”

Updated: 3:11 p.m.

Officers have taken three people, all male, into custody for further questioning and are talking with students at James Hall following reports that a man with a gun was seen on the campus of Central Connecticut State University around noon Monday. 

The men are believed to have been part of an incident that led CCSU, as well as nearby HALS Academy and Holmes Elementary schools, to be placed on lockdown after the "campus emergency," according to CCSU officials. 

"Stay sheltered in place," CCSU warned through it's Twitter account. "Students of James Hall are in Barrows Hall being questioned by police."

The incident is being labeled as "contained," police said, but the school remains on lockdown as of 2:50 p.m. Classes have been cancelled for the rest of the day and a press conference has been scheduled for 4 p.m.

No charges or names have been released at this time. 

Police responded to the school with full SWAT response, calling on assistance from surrounding towns, and they are remaining on high alert. No injuries have been reported, police indicated, despite student reports to the contrary. 

Updated: 2:03 p.m.

Officials have confirmed that a man identified as the possible suspect of a weapons situation at Connecticut State University has been "contained and isolated," but the school remains on lockdown. 

Officers from throughout the region mobilized Monday after reports that a man carrying a gun and possibly a sword was seen on campus. No injuries have been reported at this time. 

As of 2 p.m., police were talking with a man who was considered "isolated" within the suite-style dorms on the southern part of campus in New Britain. The name of the man has not been released. 

A heavy police presence has formed around James Hall on the south end of Central Connecticut State University as officers search for a man with a gun and possibly a sword, police confirmed, leaving the university and nearby elementary schools on lockdown.

Police and school officials are saying "this is not an active shooter." New Britain and West Hartford SWAT have gathered along the southern end of the campus and are moving toward the apparent source of the issue, police said. 

Police have not reported any injuries as of yet, despite some social media posts to the contrary. Road closures were reported at Cedar Street, East Street and Paul Manafort Drive. 

Officers are continuing to surround James Hall, a residence hall on campus. HALS Academy and Holmes Elementary schools were placed into a "modified lockdown" after the "campus emergency," according to officials. 

Anyone in the area is urged to take shelter as the investigation continues. The schools released the following via Twitter: 

"All on campus must seek shelter and stay indoors. This is not a drill! Campus emergency."

Original Story

Police are on scene at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain as reports come in of a possible gunman on campus.

In an alert on its website, WCSU states:

"Get inside buildings & stay in place! Stay away from Windows. Police are on the Scene."

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available. 


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