Lawrence MA School Lockdown Today: Three Teenagers Shot Near Schools as Police Investigate
A school-area shooting in Lawrence, Massachusetts, today has prompted a major police response after three teenagers were reportedly shot near local schools Monday afternoon.
The incident happened around 3:10 p.m. on August 31, 2026, in the area of Crawford Street and Exeter Street, near South Lawrence East Elementary School. Massachusetts State Police assisted Lawrence police as officers secured the area and began investigating the shooting.
Three Teenagers Shot
According to WHDH 7News, emergency crews responding to the neighborhood found three teenage boys suffering from gunshot wounds.
All three victims were transported to Lawrence General Hospital for treatment. Lawrence Police Chief Maurice Aguiler said he believed all three teenagers were expected to survive.
The shooting occurred in a residential area close to schools, prompting heightened concern among parents, students and residents.
Police Respond Near Lawrence Schools
Lawrence police asked drivers and pedestrians to avoid Crawford Street and Exeter Street while officers investigated.
Massachusetts State Police also responded to assist local officers at the scene. Reports identified the area around Crawford and Exeter streets as the focus of the police activity.
The location is near South Lawrence East Elementary School, while Crawford Street is also connected to Lawrence High School.
The city’s public-school district had only recently begun the 2026-27 school year, with students returning on August 24.
Lawrence School Lockdown Reports
Early searches surrounding the incident have included claims of a Lawrence school lockdown.
However, the reliable reports currently available confirm that police established a significant response and asked the public to avoid the area; they do not clearly confirm that Lawrence Public Schools placed the schools under a formal lockdown because of today’s shooting.
That distinction is important as information continues to develop.
Shooter Not Located
WHDH reported that police had not yet located the shooter and that no arrests had been announced at the time of its latest update.
Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances leading up to the shooting, including witness accounts and evidence recovered from the area.
Police have not publicly established a motive.
Community Asked to Avoid Area
Residents and motorists have been asked to stay away from the Crawford Street and Exeter Street area while the investigation continues.
People should not approach an active crime scene or interfere with emergency operations. Anyone with information about the shooting should provide it directly to law enforcement.
The significant police presence in the neighborhood reflects the ongoing effort to secure the scene and determine what happened.
Investigation Continues
Authorities are continuing to investigate the shooting and determine who was responsible.
At this stage, officials have not released the identities or ages of the three teenage victims beyond identifying them as teenagers. Their conditions were described as non-life-threatening by the police chief, according to WHDH.
Additional information could emerge as detectives interview witnesses and review evidence.
The Lawrence, Massachusetts, community is dealing with a developing shooting investigation after three teenagers were shot near South Lawrence East Elementary School on Monday afternoon. All three victims were taken to Lawrence General Hospital and are expected to survive, according to the Lawrence police chief. Police have asked the public to avoid the Crawford Street and Exeter Street area, while the search for the shooter and investigation into the circumstances continue.