A student was arrested at Bownes High School on Wednesday after allegedly bringing a gun to school.
Calgary police say they were called to a high school in northwestern Calgary shortly before 10 a.m. after reports of a student owning a gun. Officers went to the school and detained a student and found a firearm.
In a letter to parents and guardians, Principal Jeanne MacDonald said the administration had assisted police in an “emerging investigation”.
“The event happened during school hours, so several students were aware of the significant police presence,” she said.
“The police have acted quickly and classes have not been interrupted at any time. Please note that we cannot share details of the investigation at this time … We take our commitment to student safety very seriously.”
MacDonald told families that the CBE has created a process for schools to follow during incidents like this, and these processes have been followed.
“Something strange”
A student from 10th grade told CBC News that the students were aware of the situation and this scared several people.
“I feel like there should have been a blockade for a while… They didn’t tell us that, like it was a real firearm at our school and I don’t know what his intentions were, but it was kind of weird and it wasn’t the most fantastic experience,” he said. he.
The student said he heard that the student who was arrested “showed” the firearm in the bathroom that morning.
“A lot of people knew he had it, but I’m not quite sure who told anyone,” he said.
10th grader Avon Johnston said she found the incident “uncomfortable, uncomfortable and scary.”
“I don’t really think he’s going to do anything with the gun,” she said. “I think he probably had it in mind.”
Concerns of parents
Blair Sorge is the father of a student at Bownes High School. He says he is upset about how this situation and other school emergencies have coped this year. He says the letter to the parents is unclear.
“It doesn’t mention the seriousness of it, other than the fact that ‘we can’t tell you,'” he said.
“Can’t you tell us there was someone at school with a gun? Because I was going to come and beat up my daughter. That’s absolutely not something I want to happen.”
Sorge says he believes the school should have been locked.
“The school was not locked. How do you manage to do something like that without informing the children, informing the children’s parents and deciding to do it yourself?”
He said his daughter was also upset and he would give her the opportunity to study from home if she chose.
“Students obviously feel insecure… and I have to decide whether to put my child at risk every day or not.”
Sorge plans to file a formal complaint about the administration’s handling of the situation.
Police are asking anyone with information to contact the authorities.
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