Children ran in terror after a Year 11 pupil was apparently wounded in a shooting on their way to school.
A shaken mum said her daughter and other kids heard gunfire and a woman screaming "run, someone has been shot" in a neighbourhood in Kesgrave, Ipswich.
As armed police swarmed the area, paramedics treated one person on stretcher, and an air ambulance took off from the scene.
The mum wrote on Facebook : "Something major has happened on Grange Farm. My daughter and friends were walking to school and heard what sounded exactly like a gunshot.
"Then lots of people screaming and a lady saying 'run, someone has been shot'. I had four terrified children come running back to mine.
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"There are now at least four police cars lined up outside the road involved. Stay safe eveyone."
Suffolk Constabulary confirmed officers were called to reports of a shooting at about 8.40am on Monday. Police did not say if anyone was being sought.
Kesgrave High School said one of its Year 11 students was involved in a "serious incident" on their way to school.
Parents said the school and a nursery were put on "lockdown".
Paramedics were seen treating a person on a stretcher as police told people living nearby to stay inside their homes and urged others to avoid the area.
An air ambulance took off from the scene just before 10am after police sealed off surrounding roads.
The owner of an animal shelter in Kesgrave said a man believed to be the suspect in the shooting had been hiding in his back garden, but escaped before armed police officers arrived.
The resident, who asked not to be named, said the man appeared to be in his mid-20s and "looked like he hadn't had a haircut for a while".
"I got woken up because my dogs were going absolutely ballistic at the back of the house.
"When I went to the back window to have a look there was a gentleman who looked like he was carrying something, at first I thought it was a bat or pole or something, and he went down behind my exotic animal enclosures.
He added that the man had a hooded top over his arm concealing whatever he was carrying.
"I've got no neighbours directly and I've got a woodland at the side... I didn't see where he went."
The shelter owner added that he had now gone out walking with his dogs, telling PA: "I've got very well-trained dogs. The two biggest have a 700 PSI (pounds per square inch) bite power, much more than the German shepherds the police have.
"So if someone jumps out they're pretty screwed.
"I said to the police if they come in the garden again I'm setting all six dogs out on them and good luck to them."
Kesgrave High School, which resumed classes last week, tweeted: "We have made aware by the police that there has been a serious incident involving one of our Year 11 students, on their way to school.
"Students in school are safe and we are managing the situation in constant, close communication with the police.
"Students are to remain in school and will be kept safe in liaison with the police.
"Police will be present in the area and around the school throughout the school day.
"At the present time we are expecting students to be dismissed at the end of the school day, 3.20, as normal."
Headteacher Julia Upton sent the same message to parents.
A police spokesperson said: "Police are currently at the scene of a serious incident in Kesgrave.
"Officers were called just after 8.40am this morning, Monday 7 September, to reports of a shooting in Grange Farm.
"Friends Walk and Through Jollys are completely closed off at present and there is a partial closure on Ropes Drive.
"Members of the public are asked to avoid these areas.
"Any witnesses, or anyone with information about this incident, is asked to contact Suffolk Police on 101 quoting reference CAD 58 of 7 September."
Residents wrote on social media that they had heard at least one loud bang in the area.
Local Twitter users said there was a large police presence.
One wrote: "Lots of police cars and air ambulance at Grange Farm."
Another added: "Grange Farm Kesgrave something serious is going on. Armed police and air ambulance."
A third person tweeted: "This is crazy! Never expected this in Kesgrave! Stay safe everyone around Kesgrave."
