The town of Windsor is tightening security tonight in response to rumors of a "Windsor Purge" alluding to the 2013 horror flick in which all crime is legal for 12 hours.
Police said extra officers are patrolling the town in response to a "purge" event that local students have planned for Halloween night. In "The Purge," movie characters wearing a particular mask roam the city and loot, pillage, steal and kill.
"We were told they were going to have BB guns and possibly event paintball guns," explained Windsor police Capt. Tom LePore. "They were going to do property damage, vandalize cars, buildings and possibly even shoot at people that were trick-or-treating."
Students said they, too, caught wind of the rumors.
"I heard that it was going to be a bunch of juniors going out and doing the purge," explained Windsor High School senior Ellie Moore. "I heard they were going to buy BB guns and freeze the pellets so they'd be able to shoot them at people and hurt them. ... Everything you saw in 'The Purge,' they were going to try and recreate here."
Police told school administrators about the rumors Thursday evening, prompting schools to send letters home to parents of middle and high school students.
"Windsor Police and Windsor Public Schools have been partnering together since this information was developed and are working quickly to prevent these intended acts of delinquency," officials at Sage Park Middle School wrote in a letter to families.
"We will be meeting with students identified as participating in such discussions to determine the validity of such plans and to very emphatically communicate both school and police expectations," the letter continues.
School officials said they also planned to contact parents of students they suspected to be involved and urged families to have their own conversations about Halloween behavior.
Students noticed police at school Friday questioning their peers.
"I saw cops walking around talking to some students," explained Windsor High School sophomore Gaby Rosado, who also heard talk of frozen BB pellets. "Some students got pulled out of class to get talked to."
Police said nothing illegal has happened and hope a proactive approach will prevent any criminal activity. Students at the center of the idea will not face any repercussions as long as it stays just that – an idea.
"Halloween is going to be very safe tonight," police said.
