Someone saw a gun.
Police shut down two surrounding schools before giving the all-clear, and no gun was ever found, but Quesnel RCMP are continuing to investigate the young man in a brown jacket who was seen running towards Correlieu secondary on Thursday afternoon. Ecole Baker elementary was also nearby.
School lock-down procedures were launched immediately upon the 911 call to police at about 2:30 p.m. describing a rifle in the hands of the running man.
"All available police resources were deployed to the schools and their immediate vicinity in search of the suspect," said Prince George RCMP spokeswoman Const. Krista Vrolyk. "Staff and students at both schools were required to remain in the classrooms of the building until RCMP officers had effectively searched the schools and the surrounding area for any threat to their safety."
The situation may have taken a tone more ominous than precautionary had a weapon been located, but so far that has not happened. Nor was a suspect seen by police, but there were cameras and witnesses.
"Police continue their investigation into this matter and are reviewing school video surveillance footage and interviewing people in the area at the time the report was received in attempts to identify the male and determine if he was, in fact, in possession of a gun," Vrolyk said. "Police have spoken to eyewitnesses who were outside the school at the time of the report, who confirm seeing a male wearing a brown jacket running past the school but none of whom saw a rifle or any gun in his possession."
Vrolyk, on behalf of the police force, commended the staff and students of the two affected schools, as well as personnel from the Quesnel school district.
"The lock down procedures seriously disrupted both school's dismissals as well as bus transportation but was absolutely necessary in ensuring student and staff safety," she said.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Quesnel RCMP immediately at 250-992-9211.
