Sandy Hook Group Shocked By Arrest Of Teacher With Gun In Newtown School

Jason M. Adams, a 46-year-old science teacher, was arrested at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the middle school after security personnel spotted his concealed firearm, Newtown police said. 

“We are dismayed that this could happen in a school, especially one in a community as traumatized as Newtown. We commend the Newtown Police Department and Newtown Public Schools for their thoughtful handling of the arrest of science teacher Jason Adams for violating the law by bringing a weapon onto school grounds,” Nicole Hockley and Mark Barden said in a statement.

Both are parents of children slain at Sandy Hook School, and they are co-founders of the Sandy Hook Promise.

Newtown Middle School, at 11 Middle St., is less than two miles from Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 20 first-graders and six educators were killed three years ago.

The Newtown Public School District, said Adams has been placed on administrative leave. 

“This matter is very serious and troubling, both the Newtown Public School system and the Newtown Police Department took immediate steps to address the matter," the district's statement said. "The teacher was immediately detained by security personnel. 

"The teacher has additionally been placed on administrative leave pending an administrative investigation. Both agencies have been working closely together to investigate the incident and are taking precautions to ensure the continued safety of our students, staff and community members.”

A community forum to answer public questions about the incident will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the middle school’s auditorium, the News-Times reported. Newtown's Superintendent of Schools Joseph Erardi Jr., Principal Thomas Einhorn and Director of Security Mark Pompano will attend.

Adams, who lives on Currituck Road in Newtown, has a pistol permit. He was charged with possession of a firearm on school property, taken to the Newtown Police Department for processing and released on a promise to appear in Danbury Superior Court on April 20. 

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