Kensal (CSi) Authorities report what was originally reported as a shooting in rural Kensal, with as many as four people injured, never happened.

CSi 10 minute Video Interview with Sheriff Chad Kaiser

Video by CSi Photographer Thomas Ravely

Stutsman County Sheriff, Chad Kaiser told reporters that the Stutsman County Law Enforcement Center in Jamestown received a call about 11:06 a.m. from a federal game and Fish employee, Thursday, of a “shooting” that occurred at 8420 Highway 9 in the Kensal area. The initial report to authorities indicated that multiple individuals may have suffered gunshot wounds, and ambulances and authorities had been called to the scene.

The occupant of the home, 65-year-old Jim Devillers told authorities that four people were breaking into his home, saying that he shot two of them.

Law enforcement officials were unable to find any signs to support the man’s story.

They say Devillers suffers from dementia, and his family said he was suffering from some mental health issues over the past two weeks.

He was transported to the state hospital for evaluation.

Law Enforcement gave the “all clear,” message about 2:15-p.m.

Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office and the James Valley Special Operations Team (Jamestown Police, Valley City Police, the Barnes County Sheriff’s Office), responded to the location, along with the North Dakota Highway Patrol, and Jamestown Area Ambulance Service. Two life flight helicopters from Sanford Hospital were also staged at the scene.

Authorities performed a sweep of the farm property in that area.

A North Dakota Highway Patrol airplane was flying over the area, while the Border Patrol helicopter used thermal imaging to look for a suspect.

After talking with Devillers, authorities decided it was safe to enter the home and conducted a search, which failed to turn up any evidence of a shooting, and that no one else was in the home as Devillers reported.

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Photos by CSi reporter/photographer Thomas Ravely.

During the incident schools in the area were in lockdown mode assuming that “shooting suspects,” were at large.

School’s that were in lockdown mode were notified of the all clear notice about 2:15-p.m.

Earlier in the day, Kensal Public School, went into lockdown as a precaution around noon after Tom Tracy, Kensal Public School superintendent, was notified about the incident.

At Pingree-Buchanan Public School, both school buildings were secured around noon as a precaution. Those schools were not in full lockdown because the incident was not occuring in the school district.

Midkota High School in Glenfield, had the high school in lockdown around noon as a precaution when school officials became aware of the situation.

A section of Highway 9 was closed to traffic west of Hwy 20 and Hwy 9 Intersection.