A late-morning scare had Manchester police combing the wooded strip between Parkway South High School and Parkway Southwest Middle School on Wednesday, after a school security officer reported seeing a man with a gun near the busy stretch of campus used by students and staff. The officer tried to make contact, the man allegedly flashed a firearm and bolted deeper into the trees, and by midafternoon officers still had not made an arrest.
School security officer called police
Police told First Alert 4 they got the call around 11 a.m. Wednesday from a school security officer who spotted a person in the woods between Parkway South High School and Parkway Southwest Middle School. When the officer moved in to approach, the individual reportedly pulled out a gun and ran into the treeline, slipping out of view.
Police describe the suspect's behavior
Manchester Police Chief Ed Skaggs told First Alert 4 the man appeared to be drinking and that “the man pulled out a gun and ran off.” Officers have been canvassing the woods and nearby neighborhoods, but as of the latest update no one matching the description had been taken into custody.
Campus layout and district response
The two Parkway campuses sit side by side, with Parkway South High listed at 801 Hanna Road and Parkway Southwest Middle at 701 Wren Avenue, underscoring how close they are to the greenspace where officers searched. The Parkway School District maintains a safety tip line and guidelines for handling incidents on or near school property and is asking families to keep an eye on official district communications for any further updates.
How neighbors can help
Manchester police are urging anyone with information to call non-emergency dispatch at (636) 527-9200 or the Manchester Police Department at 636-227-1410, per the city's police page. Residents can also sign up for the city's alert system for timely notifications and are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to police.
