Target practice in a wooded area of Stoneham, Massachusetts, sparked a shelter-in-place at two schools Wednesday afternoon.

Massachusetts State Police assisted local police after authorities received several 911 calls for a report of gunshots.

Stoneham Police Chief James McIntyre said when officers arrived to the area of Karen Drive, three men were running in a backyard.

"A person carrying a bag, another person had a target stand, another person was running in the yard and it looked like they were trying to hide items in a garage and shed," McIntyre said.

When asked what they were doing, the men initially did not tell police the truth. McIntyre said they later admitted to firing rounds into a tree.

"After a period of time, the presence of State Police, Stoneham Police, the airwing, some K9s, may have helped the involved parties admit their involvement in a little target practice behind the house. And they shot some rounds into a tree," McIntyre said.

School Superintendent John Macero said a shelter-in-place that had been in effect at Colonial Park Elementary School and Stoneham High School has since been lifted.

He said the schools were asked by police to enter a shelter-in-place as a precaution due to the police activity near the school.

McIntyre said the investigation is ongoing and anticipates charges against the three men who have not been identified.