New York City schools to get audible alarms after boy's escape, death

NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Officials are installing 21,000 audible door alarms at New York City schools to prevent another tragedy like the disappearance and death of an autistic student in 2013.

Department of Education officials said Thursday the alarms will be in place by the end of 2015.

The move comes less than two years after 14-year-old Avonte Oquendo walked away from his Queens school and was found dead in a river months later.

The City Council passed a bill called Avonte's Law last year. It requires the Department of Education to survey all schools and evaluate the need for safety measures including audible alarms.

Deputy Schools Chancellor Elizabeth Rose says 97 percent of city schools requested the door alarms. The others either already had them or lease space in buildings with security systems.