Ernest Manning High School was locked down for about an hour while Calgary police investigated a weapons complaint Friday.
Officers were called to the school just before noon on Friday.
There was a large police presence, including the Tac team, at the school and a K-9 unit was on scene.
WATCH: Airsoft gun causes lockdown at Calgary high school – Bindu Suri reports
“We took all precautions and the school was locked down while officers searched for the student,” police said in a statement on their Facebook page.
The student was found and taken into custody at around 1 p.m. Police say an airsoft gun was seized at the scene.
One student, who had been let out of class early, told Global News she’d been texting a friend in the school who said her teacher seemed serious about the situation and it didn’t sound like a drill.
“We were all inside when it started and we just got yelled at from some of the teachers. There was a festival going on inside (Cinco de Mayo),” 16-year-old student Matt Martyn said.
“They started calling lockdown. All the doors were locked so we ran downstairs to the other hallway where most of the cops were,” Chloe Livingstone, a 17-year-old Ernest Manning student, said.
“Our principal was there and she told us to run outside.”
WATCH: Students of Ernest Manning High School describe lockdown situation
“We didn’t know if it was real or not, so everyone started screaming so we just tried to find an open classroom and there was nothing open, so we ran downstairs,” 17-year-old student Sophie Tsougrianis said.
“They just told us to get out as quick as we could. It’s really stressful having all your friends inside and they don’t know what’s going on.”
“We were all hiding under the tables … it was really scary. Teachers just told us to stay quiet and everything was fine. It was a really scary experience,” student Muahib Mustafe said.
“I was texting my cousin the whole time and telling her that I love her. We were alerted when we could leave.”
Deanna Herbert’s son texted her, “I’m OK, we’re all in rooms but we’ve been here for an hour.”
“We haven’t heard any pops or anything though, and no one has come to our door within an hour. So we’re fine. I believe they have the person cornered in the second hall, I’m in the first. No, I can’t call you, I shouldn’t even be texting you, mom,” he wrote.
“We circled the school. I’m very worried for all of the children,” the woman said. “We got an email about lockdown right away.”
Nearby Rundle College was also on lockdown, and the school tweeted all students were safe in their classrooms. Parents were told to check their emails for an update.
With files from Global’s Lisa MacGregor.
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