Schools reacted swiftly to killings, standoff

Schools in Machias reacted quickly to Wednesday’s double-homicide and the aftermath, according to an education official.

News of the shootings in nearby Marshfield and subsequent standoff in Machias was learned at about 7 a.m., according to Scott Porter, superintendent of schools for School Union 102.

Porter said he immediately got in touch with Sheriff Donnie Smith, who told him about the shootings and the standoff behind the Hannaford supermarket.

The elementary school and high school, located on High Street, were not located near the standoff scene.

“They were 99 percent sure that the suspect was in the house,” Porter said, referring to Richard W. Widdecombe Jr., who was later arrested in connection with the slayings of Katie Cabana, 29, and Aaron Settipani, 41, at a home in Marshfield. “But it’s that 1 percent that always concerns me. We always want to be safe.”

The school department has a plan for emergencies that Porter reviews regularly with building principals. They have an alternate bus route and on Wednesday diverted the buses through Whitneyville to the schools. Once the students were there, the schools were locked down.

The lockdown prevented some high school students from traveling to the University of Maine at Machias that morning for regular classes they attend there. Students who attended the university classes later in the day were able to take the bus from the high school after the standoff was resolved.

The three children whose mother was slain are students at the Rose M. Gaffney Elementary School.

“The hearts of all the administrators and teachers go out to these students who are left with this tragedy,” Porter said. “It’s a horrible situation and very difficult.”

Porter said that some of the 320 students at the Gaffney school were aware of what had happened when they arrived at the school. Although the school resumed its normal schedule after Widdecombe was in custody and the lockdown was lifted, counselors were present in the school and a number of students met with them during the day.

rhewitt@bangordailynews.net

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