Sheriff: Teen who was believed to have gun in custody

PHOTOGRAPHER: Erica Miller

Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office deputies were staged Monday at Maple Avenue Fire Department in their search for Bryce Byno.

WILTON — The 16-year-old who was believed to be armed and whose alleged suicidal threats sent area schools into precautionary lockouts has been located and is in custody, Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo said Monday evening.

Authorities located Bryce Byno shortly before 6:30 p.m., apparently trying to make his way back to his residence, Zurlo said. Byno did not have a gun with him, according to Gazette news-gathering partner CBS6. The Sheriff’s Department later tweeted that a gun has been found, although it didn’t say where.

Officials with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department earlier in the day said Byno may be armed with a handgun, but that he made no specific threat to others.

Subject sought in Wilton is Bryce Byno age 16 May be armed with handgun. No specific threat made to others. pic.twitter.com/G56ClqQrm9

— Saratoga Co. Sheriff (@SaratogaSheriff) October 23, 2017

Police said a domestic incident at a residence in the area of Northern Pines Road and Route 9 involving Byno and his mother occurred about 11:15 a.m. Byno then left the residence despondent and suicidal and headed south along Route 9, Zurlo said.

The search centered on a 3-mile radius.

“Our attempt is to try to locate him so that he does not do harm to himself or anybody else,” Zurlo said mid-afternoon prior to finding Byno.

The incident initially led sheriff’s officials to ask that Maple Avenue Middle School and Dorothy Nolan Elementary School in Saratoga Springs be placed on precautionary lockout. Saratoga Springs High School and the district offices were also placed on lockout.

Maple Ave Middle School and Dorothy Nolan Elementary School placed in precautionary LockOut due to police activity in the area unrelated to the schools.

— Saratoga Co. Sheriff (@SaratogaSheriff) October 23, 2017

“I must commend the School District. They went right into lockout on our request,” Zurlo said. “The No. 1 goal is the safety of the students, staff and administration inside these schools and also to the residents in the area.”

SUNY Adirondack’s Wilton Center was also placed on lockout.

Lockout is a step down from a lockdown. In a lockout, classes go on as normal, but no one can enter the building.

The Saratoga Springs City School District expects to operate as normal Tuesday, unless law enforcement instructs the district otherwise, a spokeswoman said.

Skidmore College provided updates on Twitter, noting that the woods north of Daniels Road was a focus.

UPDATE: Police continue to investigate subject w/gun in woods approx. 1- 1.5 mi N. of College, W. of Rt 9. Helicopter may be in area; to locate subject. – this is routine. [THREAD]

— Skidmore College (@SkidmoreCollege) October 23, 2017

UPDATE Subject in Custody :: Law Enforcement reports subject of today’s alert in custody. Campus will resume normal operation ASAP-More to f

— Skidmore College (@SkidmoreCollege) October 23, 2017

Skidmore suspended classes for the afternoon and instructed students to lock residences and canceled evening classes and athletic events as a precaution.