HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Four different schools were put on lockdown Wednesday afternoon over fears that a gunman was on the run. Police say it all ended with the gunman killing himself.

Students at North Mecklenburg High School were still on lockdown when police say one of their classmates shot and killed himself about three miles away from the campus.

The students were on lockdown because a 16-year-old student confronted two classmates in the school’s back parking lot and threatened them with a handgun and then left campus, according to Huntersville Police Chief Philip Potter.

The students told the school resource officer about the incident. North Meck was put on lockdown at the end of lunch period. Alexander Middle School, Blythe Elementary School and Lake Norman Charter were also placed on lockdown around 12:50 p.m.

At the same time, police searched for the gunman and the truck they thought he was driving. Officers found the truck at the Pit Stop Citgo gas station on Statesville Road about three miles from North Meck and the student was sitting in the driver’s seat, Potter said.

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When the officers approached the truck, the student picked up the gun. Officers asked him to put the gun down, but he shot himself once in the head. He was transported to Carolinas Medical Center where he died.

Parents and students say it was a terrifying day.

“I’m very nervous about that, especially with what just happened at Virginia Tech,” said parent Ladonna Ware. “All parents should be nervous about anybody carrying any guns to school.”

Students at school during the lockdown said they were terrified and had no idea what was going on. Some students said they heard rumors, but did not know exactly why they were on lockdown. Students said they couldn’t help but think of the Virginia Tech massacre.

Huntersville police said a preliminary investigation revealed there had been a dispute over a girlfriend and a bad break-up leading up to Wednesday’s events.

It is not normally the policy of WCNC to cover suicides, but because the incident started at the school and involved the lockdown of several schools we felt it was important to cover the story.

WCNC reporter Michelle Boudin contributed to this repo