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The Williams College campus was locked down for a little more than hour midday on Sunday.
Updated December 22, 2024 04:22PM

Williamstown Police Looking for Suspects After Cole Avenue Shooting

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com
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UPDATE: A notification from the town has indicated that the general public is not in danger. Williams College Sunday afternoon ended its lockdown. Single victim was taken away from the scene by ambulance.
 
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — One person was shot with a firearm at 330 Cole Ave. on Sunday morning, triggering an hour-long lockdown of Williams College and a manhunt for an armed suspect.
 
A reverse 911 call from the town at 12:39 Sunday afternoon indicated that Williamstown Police and the Massachusetts State Police are investigating the incident.
 
"At this time, based on evidence seen, this appears to be a specific, targeted incident," the reverse 911 call indicated. "The general public not in danger at this time. This [call] is for public awareness only."
 
The robocall indicates that the shooting took place at 10:15 a.m.
 
Williams announced the lockdown in an 11:38 text (and shortly after an email) to the college community. The college sent a text to its community at 12:55 p.m. saying it was ending the lockdown.
 
Williamstown Police on Sunday afternoon confirmed the lone victim in the shooting was alive when transported to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.
 
The Berkshire District Attorney's office Sunday at about 4 p.m. issued a news release saying the victim is "expected to survive."
 
According to the morning email sent to the college community, police were investigating the incident and "Suspects are at large, armed and considered dangerous."
 
The email alert said to remain indoors and not admit anyone into college buildings without identification.
 
"If off campus, stay away," read the email, signed by college's director of campus safety and director of emergency management.
 
The college said its Campus Security Service is working with the the Williamstown Police Department. The email indicated that updates will be posted on williams.edu or the college's Twitter account.
 
Williams College's final exams for the fall semester ended on Monday, Dec. 16. The winter break for faculty and staff began on Friday, Dec. 20. The only college building scheduled to be open to the public on Sunday, the Williams College Museum of Art, shut down for the day after the campus lockdown was ordered.

 


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Lanesborough, Williamstown Schools Make FY26 Budget Requests

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Mount Greylock Regional School District's elementary school principals Thursday presented their fiscal year 2026 budget requests to the School Committee.
 
The presentations followed last month's discussion about needs for the middle/high school with Principal Jake Schutz, who also Thursday reiterated those budget requests.
 
Lanesborough Elementary School Principal Nolan Pratt told the committee that the preK-through-6 school is requesting level staffing for the 2025-26 school year.
 
In terms of new funding initiatives, Pratt again called for an investment in short-throw projectors.
 
"I think I've asked for this each of the last four years," Pratt said. "Our projecting system is like having a chalkboard at this point. We have these big, chunky projectors that take up a big section of primary real estate in the classroom, and a lot of our curriculum is now digital.
 
"The whole process of having a cumbersome projector — and we have a different projector in each room — it's becoming a hindrance to our education."
 
Pratt said LES currently has four up-to-date projectors but needs probably 20 more to achieve equity in the school, "so everyone has access to the work that needs to be done."
 
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