Vehicle Backfire Leads To Temporary Lockdown At Bridgeport School

BRIDGEPORT, CT — The sound of backfire from a vehicle was mistakenly interpreted as a possible gunshot Monday afternoon in Bridgeport, which led to temporary lock-in/lock-out status at one of the city's schools, according to authorities.

Geraldine W. Johnson School, a preK-8 school on Lexington Avenue in Bridgeport, was placed on lock-in/lock-out status just before 1:30 p.m.

Authorities had received a ShotSpotter activation on nearby North Avenue following the vehicle backfire.

ShotSpotter is Bridgeport's gunshot detection system, which alerts emergency personnel when gunshots are heard.

Bridgeport police officers investigated the area around North Avenue and the nearby school, and were able to quickly determine it was backfire from a vehicle.