WINDSOR, N.S. — RCMP officers with guns drawn were spotted outside the high school in Windsor Sept. 20.
Haylee Rafuse, who attends Avon View High School, said she was making her way to class when she witnessed RCMP officers arrive at the property.
“I was walking in for first class at 9 a.m. and saw guns and left,” she said via text message.
Rafuse went to a safe location near the school to see if she could determine what was going on. She says she saw police officers guarding the entrances of the school, and students looking to enter the school had to present ID to the police.
“They were escorting people to and from their vehicles and into the school,” she said.
“A bunch of people were picking up their kids and stuff,” she continued. “It was pretty scary because nobody knew what was going on.”
Cpl. Jennifer Clarke, a media relations officer with the RCMP, said in an email that a formal press release about the incident would be sent out later in the afternoon.
However, she said the RCMP “did send a few tweets about this incident this morning, to reassure (the) public that we were on scene, and then when we cleared it and things were fine,” she said.
At 9:21 a.m., RCMP tweeted out that they were “responding to an ongoing situation” at Avon View High School in Windsor. At 9:49 a.m., they tweeted again, noting the RCMP “have finished at Avonview High. It's all secure.”
The Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education then tweeted at 10:32 a.m.
“This morning, administration at Avon View HS were informed of a possible risk to the school. RCMP were called to determine if there was a risk. Upon investigation, RCMP determined there was no cause for concern. Classes have continued as usual.”
Kristen Loyst, communications officer with the Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education, confirmed that the police attended Avon View High School.
“I’m not aware of any other involvement with any other schools in the vicinity; the school was not evacuated, it did not go into lockdown or hold-and-secure.”
Loyst added that classes resumed as normal.
“We’re thankful to the RCMP for responding and ensuring everyone in our schools are safe.”
At 2:39 p.m., the RCMP issued a press release indicating they were called to the school at 8:50 a.m. to investigate an alleged firearm incident. The RCMP determined there was no threat and charges were not warranted.
~ with files from Colin Chisolm
*Story updated at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 20.
