Woman Falsely Reported Active Shooter Incident: East Hampton Police

EAST HAVEN, CT – A woman is accused of falsely reporting an active shooter incident at the middle school, police said Wednesday evening.

At 12:47 a.m. Tuesday, police were notified of an active shooter incident at the middle school at 19 Childs Road, police said.

“Responding officers located a distraught woman outside the main entrance to the school who informed them that there was an active shooter at the school,” police said. “Officers entered the school to search for the shooter and obtained additional information that the shooter may be at the high school.”

“The high school was placed on lockdown and additional officers went to the high school and searched the school and found nothing,” police said. “As the investigation continued, we determined there was no active threat to any of the schools and the suspensions were lifted.”

The investigation continued throughout the evening and several people were questioned, police said. The investigation continued Wednesday and probable cause was developed that Monica Smith was the person who actually threatened to shoot up the school, police said.

Smith was the person police initially encountered when they arrived at the school, police said.

Smith, 57, of Clubhouse Road, Lebanon, is charged with falsely reporting an incident resulting in serious bodily injury or death, misuse of the 911 emergency system and second-degree breach of peace.

She was released after posting $50,000 bail.

Smith was also told she was barred from all schools in East Hampton and would face additional charges if she entered school property, police said.