School shooting reported in Newtown, Conn.

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut State Police say they are assisting local police in Newtown amid reports of a shooting at an elementary school.

AP Photo/Newtown Bee, Shannon Hicks

In this photo provided by the Newtown Bee, Connecticut State Police lead children from the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., following a reported shooting there Friday

The school superintendent's office says the district has locked down schools to ensure the safety of students and staff.

The shooting was reported at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, in western Connecticut. State police say Newtown police called them at about 9:40 a.m. about the reports.

The Newtown Bee newspaper posted a photo of a group of young students — some crying, others looking visibly frightened — being escorted by adults through a parking lot in a line, hands on each other's shoulders.

State police spokesman Lt. Paul Vance says they have a number of personnel on the scene to assist.