Dead body found in US school

The body of a man who apparently tried to break into a US school was discovered in an air conditioning duct on the school’s roof, police said.

The body was found as a plumber investigated a foul smell noticed by cafeteria staff earlier in the day, said Roosevelt School District Superintendent Mark Dowling.

Authorities in Arizona, think the man tried to climb through the duct, got stuck, and died.

It was not known how long the body was there.

“Obviously because of the smell, there are indications that he had been there for some time,” said Sergeant Andy Hill, a Phoenix police spokesman.

The man’s name was not released.

District spokeswoman Lori Rieger said Sierra Vista Elementary School was locked down after the discovery and that some students left early with relatives.

The school has about 550 students in preschool to eighth grade.

David Torres, who arrived at the school at midday yesterday to pick up his two sons, said he was surprised to see police and TV helicopters.

“I was thinking something real bad had happened,” said Torres. “I got nervous and I started to look for my kids.”

A psychologist will be at the school when it reopens on Tuesday, Dowling said.