SABATTUS — A man was found dead of an apparent suicide inside a Route 126 home Thursday night hours after claiming he had a gun and was going to harm himself, police said.

Local, state and county police began assembling outside the home near Oak Hill High School around 4 p.m. after at least one person reported hearing a gunshot.

All after-school events were canceled and police helped escort students to their rides home as the drama unfolded late in the afternoon.

One witness said there was a police officer at every door to the school until the building was completely evacuated.

The Maine State Police tactical team was called to the area after local police were told the man holed up inside the home might be drunk and armed.

Sabattus police and officers from the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department were also on hand as police began an attempt to communicate with the man.

He was not identified.

For a time, police diverted traffic down Route 197 as more officers arrived on Route 126.

A woman who lives in the area said she drove home from work at about 6 p.m. to find dozens of police officers at Oak Hill and more arriving.

At about 7 p.m., officers entered the home and found the man dead, police said. The cause of death was not disclosed as an investigation got under way.

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