Students returned to Staples High School in Westport Wednesday with a heightened police presence, a day after officials say a student threatened to shoot a teacher.

Police say a student reported a male classmate for allegedly making the threats Tuesday morning. Authorities first issued a shelter-in-place order, then dismissed students early as officers investigated. Dismissal on Wednesday happened at its normal time.

Police say the accused student threatened to shoot a teacher and harbored thoughts of carrying out a mass shooting at the school.

Authorities tell News 12 that the student will face charges once he is released from the hospital, where he is currently under police watch. 

Westport's Superintendent Colleen Palmer says the student who came forward to report the threats helped avert a tragedy.

Police have executed search warrants at the student's home and say the family voluntarily turned over a number of firearms, which were kept locked in a safe. They were properly stored and registered, and the boy reportedly did not have access to them.

Authorities say there will be extra police at all of Westport's public schools this week.