There were some tense moments inside three Kingston, Ont., schools Thursday morning.
At 11:30 a.m., Frontenac Secondary School and Module de l’Acadie were placed in a lockdown, which is initiated when there is an immediate threat near or in the school.
Police say that just after 11 a.m. a youth, who was not a registered student at the school, was seen at Frontenac Secondary School flanked by three other youths.
Witnesses said they had seen the first young person brandish a firearm and they notified the school administration.
Police responded and when they arrived, reviewed security camera footage that showed the youth with what appeared to be a Glock-style handgun.
As officers were unsure if it was real or imitation, the school enacted a lockdown procedure.
Police then conducted a thorough search of the school’s interior before new information revealed that the youths had left the school and split up, all possibly by different means of transportation and possibly bound for Bayridge Secondary School or Holy Cross Secondary School.
Out of an abundance of caution, both other schools were placed in hold and secure protocols.
Upon further investigation, police located the accused at a home in the west end, though they were not in possession of the firearm.
It was later located in the possession of one of the other youths and it was confirmed to be a Glock-style BB gun.
The lockdown at Frontenac Secondary School as well as the hold and secure protocols at Bayridge and Holy Cross secondary schools were then lifted at the three high schools and the accused, a 13-year-old local person, was brought to police headquarters to be held for a bail hearing on Friday.
The 13-year-old was then charged with possession of an imitation weapon dangerous to the public peace as well as carrying a concealed weapon.
Police reported that there were no injuries to staff or students at any of the schools.
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