An intruder at Liberty High School on West 18th Street in Manhattan is now in police custody, the NYPD said.
The intruder has been identified as a 24-year-old man. Police said he barged into Liberty High School around 1:20 p.m. demanding to see a certain teacher.
He and a school safety agent got into some sort of altercation, and the intruder grabbed a fire extinguisher and sprayed the safety agent with it.
A total of three school safety agents were sprayed, the NYPD said. Nine students inhaled the fire extinguisher spray.
The intruder did not actually strike anyone with the fire extinguisher, police said.
Police believe the man is emotionally disturbed, a law enforcement official said He is currently being at Bellevue Hospital.
Follow Danielle Tcholakian on Twitter @danielleiat