Dutchess County gunman upset over GI treatment

There are no classes scheduled on this holiday at the Stissing Mountain Middle School in Dutchess County -- where that hostage drama played out on Tuesday.

But counseling is available today to anyone seeking it.

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PINE PLAINS -- Police say a carpenter who brought a shotgun to an upstate New York middle school and held a principal hostage for more than two hours was upset by the treatment of U.S. soldiers.

The court complaint against Christopher Craft Sr. says he threatened to use deadly force to try to get school officials and police to contact the media with his message concerning "the wrongful treatment" of military personnel.

Several people who gathered at Stissing Mountain Middle School, about 90 miles north of New York City, say Craft's elder son had enlisted in the Army. That information could not immediately be confirmed Tuesday evening.

Craft sneaked a disassembled shotgun into the school, put it together in a bathroom then confronted Principal Robert Hess in the main office.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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PINE PLAINS -- Investigators say at no point did the man who took a middle school principal hostage Tuesday morning threaten any students or teachers in the northern Dutchess County school district. But a specific motive is still unclear.

Dutchess County Sheriff Adrian Anderson said the gunman, who has been identified as 42-year-old Christopher Craft, entered the school Tuesday morning through the main door -- the only one that was unlocked at the time.

Craft told investigators he concealed a shotgun, walked into the school and asked to use bathroom. There, investigators said, he loaded the gun and proceeded to the principal's office.

Investigators said at no point did he threaten Stissing Mountain Middle School Principal Robert Hess -- a more than 30-year veteran of the district.

The sheriff said teams from state police and his office were inside the building within minutes of arriving on scene. They also had help from a school janitor and at least one student who was in the office at the time of the incident.

Students remained in their classes once the lockdown was called until a partial evacuation to the nearby highway garage, following protocol. Once law enforcement cleared the rest of the students and faculty to leave, officers searched the building.

The more than 700 students -- in grades six through 12 -- were eventually taken back to the school for an attendance count.

Negotiators from the state police and sheriff's office spoke with Craft for about an hour and a half on the phone, until he surrendered and was taken into custody.
No shots were fired.

A New York State Police major said at no point did they feel they didn't have control over the gunman.

BACKGROUND

Craft himself graduated from the school and his children also attended and have since graduated from the district, according to investigators.

Based on his statements, they said his actions today had nothing to do with recent events at the school.

CHARGES

Prosecutors have charged Craft with three felonies: Kidnapping in the first degree, criminal possession of weapon in the third degree and criminal trespass.

Craft has had prior criminal convictions which elevated the weapon possession charge from a misdemeanor.

Craft remains in the Dutchess County Sheriff's Department and continues to be interviewed.

PARENTS AND FAMILIES
Parents will have their first change this afternoon to re-connect with their children.

Pine Plains School Superintendent Linda Kaumeyer commended students and faculty Tuesday afternoon.

She said there were noticeable signs of anxiety once the students found out the situation was real, but everyone acted according to their training.

There is still no decision on whether the school will be open tomorrow, a planned holiday, but Kaumeyer said a crisis plan, involving counselors, would go into effect on Thursday if not sooner.

She said in her six years with the district, while she has seen cases of students bringing a small knife to school, she has never had an incident like this.

She said she would now focus on how this happened and identify and possibly change any gaps in security protocol.

Kaumeyer said superintendents need no wake-up calls these days to make sure there are appropriate plans in place.

"This is a day that school superintendents dread to have," she said, "even though everyone is safe."

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The gunman’s name, according to law enforcement, is 38-year-old Christopher Craft.

We're told he does have a history of problems, and is well known to the people of Pine Plains. 

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Sheriff's deputies are working to clear the school building as K-9 units search the area for others who might have been involved, though they said that likely wasn't the case. They said there is no such thing as being too safe in this situation.

Law enforcement leaders said once the building is cleared, students will be returned to their first period classroom which is part of the school's emergency plan.

Onlookers shouted in protest at that news.

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One person has been arrested, bringing to an end the hostage situation in Dutchess County.

No shots were fired, according to police.

Families are gathering at The Stissing House restaurant in Pine Plains to reunite with their children.

Teresa Priolo, on the scene, reports the street outside The Stissing House is flooded with officers and people watching what's happening.

Gov. David Paterson released the following statement:

“At this hour it appears the hostage situation at Pine Plains High School in Dutchess County has ended. I want to commend State and local police for their efforts in resolving this situation with professionalism and no injuries. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, but I speak for all New Yorkers when offering my sincere gratitude to our fine public safety officials who have once again served New York State well.”

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PINE PLAINS -- A man in his 40s is holding a middle school principal hostage in his office at a school in northern Dutchess County, according to police on the scene.

The man, who officers said graduated from the district in the 1980s was said to have emotional issues.

Police said the man entered Stissing Mountain Middle School this morning with a rifle, went into a men’s bathroom and eventually found his way to the principal’s office.

At this time, he remains there with the principal -- Robert Hess, according to the district's Web site.

No shots have been fired, according to police.

Some kids have been evacuated. Parents are now being briefed.

We have several crews on scene.

Check back for updates.

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PINE PLAINS -- The Dutchess County Sheriff's Department said Stissing Mountain High School in Pine Plains has been locked down and police are on the scene.

CNN is reporting a gunman is holding the school’s principal hostage.

Police confirmed the lockdown is due to some sort of hostage situation, according to our affiliate WCBS.

We have several crews en route.

Check back for updates.