A middle school in Attleboro, Massachusetts was put on lockdown earlier today while police searched the area for a gunman allegedly spotted by students.

Attleboro Police Department issued an announcement on their Twitter feed this afternoon about the lockdown at Wamsutta Middle School, saying they were searching for a black male wearing baggy pants and a white shirt. Several students reported seeing the man before he fled into a field behind the school and into a wooded area.

Students were later released to family members, and there has been no update on the department’s Twitter feed. No shots were reported fired, but any report of a person with a gun near school grounds is of course taken seriously, especially after last December’s tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. 26 people–20 of those children–were fatally shot when Adam Lanza opened fire inside the school.

Searching area of Warmsutta School for a man with a Gun. School in lock down. Perimeter established. Black male baggy pants, white shirt

— Attleboro Police (@AttleboroPolice) October 8, 2013

Sickening. What is wrong these days? #Attleboro school on lockdown after students report possible gunman

— Adam Harding (@AdamHardingNews) October 8, 2013

Two Schools in Attleboro on lockdown, a man with a gun was seen on school ground. And my sons in one of the school.