Incident that led to school lockdown in Haverhill was hoax, officials say

Haverhill schools were placed on lockdown on Tuesday morning, May 6, 2025, after the Haverhill Police Department was notified of a threat a juvenile made toward a Haverhill police officer. (MAI News - Greg Mathieson Sr.)

Haverhill schools were placed on lockdown on Tuesday morning, May 6, 2025, after the Haverhill Police Department was notified of a threat a juvenile made toward a Haverhill police officer. (MAI News - Greg Mathieson Sr.) Greg E. Mathieson Sr / MAI—(C) 2025 Greg E. Mathieson...

Published: 05-12-2025 4:45 PM

WOODSVILLE — A threat that forced all Haverhill schools into lockdown May 6 was a hoax, according to school district administrators.

All Haverhill schools were placed under lockdown last Tuesday after the Haverhill Police Department was notified of a threat that a juvenile made toward a police officer.

The school district reported in a social media post Monday that the Haverhill Police Department has determined that the entire incident was a hoax. The juvenile, a student at Haverhill Cooperative Middle School, was cleared of any involvement.

“The Haverhill Police Department has determined that there never was any threat to student safety,” the social media post said.

Area law enforcement agencies, including Haverhill Police, Grafton County Sherriff’s Department and state police, responded to the apparent threat that “potentially involve(d) the vicinity of Woodsville Elementary School,” according to a news release.

Authorities placed Woodsville Elementary School under lockdown followed by other area schools “as information developed,” according to Monday’s social media post from the school district.

Officers took the juvenile into custody that day.

The lockdown was then lifted after law enforcement conducted a safety assessment in the area.

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Classes were held as normal the remainder of last week.