Police rushed into the D. Blakely Hoar Sanctuary in Brookline Monday morning to investigate a report of an armed man near the Baker School and found a man who was target shooting in the woods with an air rifle.

The incident began at about 9 a.m. when someone called Brookline police to report the sighting of an armed person in the sanctuary, which abuts the school, police said.

By 9:20 a.m., police had located a man, questioned him, and determined that he was carrying an air rifle, police wrote on their official Twitter account. “Target shooting in the woods,’’ police wrote.

Brookline police initially asked for assistance from State Police, including the Air Wing, but canceled that request, said Brookline police spokesman Lieutenant Philip Harrington.

In a statement to parents, Brookline Public Schools Interim Superintendent Joseph J. Connelly said police immediately secured the building to ensure the safety of the children.

“We want to assure all parents that students were safe at all times,’’ Connelly said.

John R. Ellement of Globe staff contributed to this report.