Fleeing Suspect Causes Two Springfield Schools to Go Into Lockdown

Springfield, MA
Lockdowns have been lifted at two Springfield schools after a suspect flees a neighboring home.
Springfield Police Sgt. John Delaney says that Monday morning, officers were trying to serve an arrest warrant on 36-year-old Gerald Williams at 86 Bowles Street.

When officers arrived, Williams took off, running into the neighborhood, and officers gave chase.
Early reports indicated that the search may have been related to an attempted abduction. However, Delaney stresses that there was no attempted abduction.

With a concern that Williams may run into neighboring schools, the Rebecca Johnson School on Catherine Street and the Ellis School on Cortland Street were put on a perimeter lockdown for a short time. According to school officials, a perimeter lockdown means that classes continue as scheduled, but nobody is allowed into or out of the school building.