LETHBRIDGE –The Magrath High School was locked down for part of Friday night.
RCMP were called to the scene after a man was seen wearing camouflage and walking toward the school with what appeared to be a long gun. It happened as teams from across the province were there competing in a volleyball tournament.
“The RCMP arrived on the scene and they took control of the building,” said Ken Sommerfeldt, the superintendent of the Westwind School Division.
The Magrath High School is part of the Westwind School Division and officials say they followed proper protocol.
“During those hours we made sure our students were safe. We communicated on a time schedule through social media so kids and parents could be aware,” explained Sommerfeldt.
“We had parents contacting us from many locations, all wanting information.”
The school was locked down from 9 p.m. until midnight. RCMP later discovered the man was a local hunter who was walking past the school on his way home. One southern Alberta hunter says it’s extremely common to see hunters walking in rural communities and officials overreacted.
“My first thoughts when I heard someone was in Magrath with a gun was it was a hunter because Magrath is surrounded by all four sides by a hunting draw,” said Curtis Litchfield, a hunter from Magrath. “I grew up there and I just had to cross the street and I was in a hunting area.”
The principal of the Magrath High School says he is grateful for the parent who reported the hunter to RCMP.
“I would rather err on the side of student safety. I think it’s an important thing to remember,” said Rob Doig. “In my mind, that person should be celebrated. I would way rather deal with a slight inconvenience for two or three hours.”
RCMP say no charges are being laid and that it’s legal to carry a firearm such as a hunting rifle in Alberta, except in provincial and national parks.
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