Two Quesnel schools were locked down Thursday afternoon after RCMP received a report of a person running toward one of the schools with a firearm.
At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Quesnel RCMP received a 911 call reporting a young male wearing a brown jacket running toward Quesnel's Correlieu secondary school with a rifle.
Quesnel RCMP took immediate action, notifying both Correlieu secondary and nearby Ecole Baker elementary school of the situation and commencing school lock down procedures. All available police resources were deployed to the schools and their immediate vicinity in search of the suspect. 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.
A search of both schools and the immediate vicinity did not uncover anyone matching the suspect's description. 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.
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.
Anyone with any information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Quesnel RCMP immediately at 250-992-9211.
RCMP would like to commend the staff and students of both Correlieu secondary school and Ecole Baker elementary school as well as school district transportation personnel for their quick action and diligence in following lock down protocol.
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.
