Police search for alleged gunman

COVENTRY, R.I.—Specially armed police officers are searching Coventry for a man who allegedly phoned 911 from a junkyard on New London Turnpike, saying he had a gun and was looking for a “friend.“

Authorities said the man, 41-year-old William Otte called before 5 a.m. Wednesday.

Police said Otte told them over the phone that he wanted to talk to somebody about an incident, but that he didn’t want to hurt anybody. Officers contacted the man who was threatened and said he was safe.

Police shut down one roadway while members of a SWAT team and officers with police dogs searched for Otte. He was not immediately located.

A family who lives close to the junkyard told NBC 10 they’re looking for an 18-year-old girl and said she had a relationship with Otte. Family members said they haven’t seen the girl since Wednesday morning.

The girl’s mother’s boyfriend told NBC 10 he had a confrontation with Otte over the weekend about Otte being with a much younger girl, and that he was Otte’s target.

Police would not confirm the man who was threatened and didn’t comment about the 18-year-old girl.

Local officials locked the doors of nearby schools as a precaution and temporarily kept students from going outside for recess.

School officials said the scheduled NECAP testing is postponed until Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this story