Fall River, Mass. – City police and school officials said a 37‑year‑old man entered the Espirito Santo Catholic School on Friday and later approached Argosy Collegiate Charter High School, prompting a rapid security response at both campuses.

Unauthorized entry at Espirito Santo

According to court records obtained by NBC 10, the man, identified as Joshua Halladay, walked through a door at Espirito Santo School that had a faulty locking mechanism while classes were in session. Halladay told officers he was looking for a Portuguese Bible. A staff member noticed him quickly and escorted him out of the building.

“While speaking to Joshua, it seemed as though Joshua could not grasp how concerning it is that he walked into an elementary school with no valid reason of being there,” an officer wrote in a narrative statement.

Charter school doorbell ring

Later that same day Halladay approached Argosy Collegiate Charter School, rang its doorbell and left without attempting to enter the building. In a letter to families, Argosy’s executive director emphasized that the individual did not try to gain unauthorized access and displayed no threatening behavior toward scholars, staff, or the school.

“I want to be clear that the individual did not attempt to enter our building or gain access in an unauthorized manner,” the director wrote. “I want to reassure our families that there was no threat to our school during Friday’s incident.”

Halladay told investigators he wanted to “test the security” at Argosy after leaving Espirito Santo. He said he checked whether the door was locked before ringing the bell to inform staff about the earlier incident.

School officials praise security procedures

Argosy leaders told NBC 10 that their established security procedures worked as intended and that staff responded appropriately to keep the building secure. “The safety of our school community is, and always will be, our highest priority,” the statement read.

Espirito Santo officials confirmed that the faulty lock has been repaired since the incident.

Halladay’s recent legal history

Court records show Halladay has faced several recent arrests. On Oct. 6 he was arrested after allegedly breaking into a neighbor’s apartment, claiming the neighbor was a squatter. On Oct. 12 he was accused of breaking into a unit below his own apartment, during which he allegedly brandished a crowbar after a property‑management employee confronted him.

Investigators described a “pattern of decline” in Halladay’s mental health and noted that he was flagged in 2022 for statements about wanting to blow things up. Recent social‑media posts referenced weapons and included photos of two pellet guns.

Police response and ongoing custody

Fall River police said officers have increased their presence around all schools in the city following the incidents. As of Tuesday evening, Halladay remained in custody as a bail violator.

The city’s swift response underscores the importance of vigilant school security and the cooperation between law‑enforcement and educational institutions to protect students and staff.

Original reporting: NBC 10 WJAR (Sinclair) – local — read the source article.