A man who fled on foot into the woods after a disturbance at a Massachusetts convenience store triggered a large multi-agency manhunt Wednesday morning, October 14, 2026, forcing three Ashburnham schools into brief lockdowns. The search ended with the apprehension of Jacob Comeau-Karlon of Ashburnham, police said as reported by Gardner News.
TL;DR: Ashburnham police answered a disturbance call at the Alltown convenience store at 6 Gardner Road on Wednesday morning, and a man ran from the scene into nearby woods. Officers from four departments, plus K-9 teams, drones and the State Police Air Wing, searched the area. Three schools locked down briefly as a precaution. The man was located and apprehended; charges will be sought through Gardner District Court.
Disturbance at the Alltown
The incident began when Ashburnham police responded to a reported disturbance at the Alltown convenience store at 6 Gardner Road. When officers arrived, an individual fled the scene on foot and disappeared into a nearby wooded area, prompting the large search.
The Woods Search
Ashburnham officers were joined by police from Westminster and Winchendon, as well as Massachusetts State Police. Authorities deployed K-9 tracking teams, drones and the State Police Air Wing as part of the search.
Police also established a temporary command presence in the rear parking lot of Oakmont Regional High School, giving officers access to the wooded area and a staging point to safely remove the suspect once he was located.
Three Schools Lock Down
Students and staff at John R. Briggs Elementary School, Oakmont Regional High School and Overlook Middle School were directed to remain inside their buildings for a brief period while local and state police searched the surrounding area.
Ashburnham police stressed that the precautionary lockdowns did not mean the schools themselves were in danger. “At no point did the situation pose a direct threat to any school campus,” said Ashburnham Police Chief Chris Conrad.
The Apprehension
The search ended with the apprehension of Jacob Comeau-Karlon of Ashburnham, according to police. No injuries were reported during the operation.
Charges Pending
Authorities did not provide additional details about the initial disturbance or specify what charges Comeau-Karlon will face. Police said criminal charges will be sought through Gardner District Court. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in Ashburnham on Wednesday?
On the morning of October 14, 2026, Ashburnham police responded to a reported disturbance at the Alltown convenience store at 6 Gardner Road. When officers arrived, an individual fled on foot into a nearby wooded area, prompting a large multi-agency search, according to Gardner News.
Why were the schools locked down?
John R. Briggs Elementary School, Oakmont Regional High School and Overlook Middle School were placed on precautionary lockdowns while police searched the area. Ashburnham Police Chief Chris Conrad said the lockdowns were precautionary and that at no point did the situation pose a direct threat to any school campus.
Which agencies joined the search?
Ashburnham police were joined by officers from Westminster and Winchendon, along with Massachusetts State Police. Authorities deployed K-9 tracking teams, drones and the State Police Air Wing.
Was the suspect caught?
Yes. The search ended with the apprehension of Jacob Comeau-Karlon of Ashburnham, according to police.
What was the suspect charged with?
Authorities did not specify what charges Comeau-Karlon will face, and no details about the initial disturbance at the convenience store were released. Police said criminal charges will be sought through Gardner District Court.
How long did the lockdown last?
The lockdowns were brief and were lifted after the suspect was located. Police said they were precautionary measures while the search was active.
Was anyone hurt?
No injuries were reported. The search concluded with the suspect’s apprehension without further incident.
