A 57-year-old biology teacher's unsafe actions caused his Massachusetts high school to be placed under lockdown after he was caught placing live ammunition in the school's staircase.

Educator Alfred Purcell did this on Thursday morning, shortly after he was told his contract was not going to be renewed at Southbridge High School. He planted the ammunition, a 9mm bullet, before swiftly walking away. However, unbeknownst to him, surveillance cameras were on him the entire time, reports Daily Mail.

Purcell returned to the scene 10 minutes later, pretending he happened to find the bullet, and alerted administrations, but was taken into custody when the police looked at the tape.

Officers later found 102 live rounds of shotgun ammunition in the trunk of Purcell's car, and upon further investigation, learned his license to carry a firearm was expired in his home state of Connecticut.

Purcell claims he did this charade to "prove to the school that they needed to get metal detectors."

The teacher has since been charged with two counts of the unlawful possession of ammunition, two counts of carrying ammunition on school grounds, disturbing a school assembly, disorderly conduct, and disturbing the peace.

Southbridge High School superintendent Jeffrey Purcell stated, "This individual acted in a disgusting manner. I feel very badly for our students because it is an adult who failed them."

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Several bullets are pictured on a table. Pixabay
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