NEW ORLEANS — A lockdown at ReNEW Dolores T. Aaron Academy in New Orleans East has been lifted following a tense incident Tuesday morning in which a man entered the school with a firearm.
Authorities confirmed that no shots were fired and no injuries occurred.
The suspect, identified as 24-year-old Mario Harris, was taken into custody without incident after he entered the school building and requested medical assistance.
According to officials with the New Orleans Police Department, Harris approached staff members in the school’s front office and asked for help.
As staff worked to assess the situation, Harris reportedly revealed a firearm while still seated in the office.
School administrators immediately contacted law enforcement, and the school was placed on lockdown as a precautionary measure.
Staff members and responding officers from the New Orleans Police Department acted swiftly to ensure the safety of students and faculty, subduing Harris without further escalation.
Police confirmed that Harris did not discharge the weapon at any point during the incident.
Mental health counselors have since been deployed to the campus to provide support to students and staff in the aftermath.
Parents were notified and have been given the option to pick up their children for the remainder of the day, though classes are continuing under heightened safety protocols.
Mario Harris was arrested at the scene and is currently in police custody.
Authorities have not yet released information regarding potential charges or Harris’s motive.
The investigation remains ongoing. School officials and law enforcement praised the rapid response of staff and officers, noting that their actions were instrumental in bringing the situation to a safe resolution.