A 13-year-old boy has been arrested after a blockade was imposed on Frontenac Secondary School (FSS) and detention and security measures have been implemented at nearby schools.
Kingston police officers at the Frontenac High School scene after the high school was closed due to an “immediate or perceived threat” to the school, the cause of which is not yet clear at 6 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2022, the day the incident occurred. Photo by Cris Vilela.
According to Kingston police, on the morning of Thursday, June 9, 2022, a young man who “was not a registered student” was observed outside the FSS, along with three other youths.
In a press release shortly before 6pm the same day, police said: “Witnesses observed that the young accused had brandished a firearm outside the school, and these witnesses later notified school administration “. He was later contacted by police.
“Upon arrival, police secured restraint around the school and saw a security video showing the accused [youth] entering the school in possession of what looked like a Glock-style pistol. As a precautionary measure, as it was unknown whether this pistol was real or a replica of a firearm / BB weapon, the school went into a state of blockade pending further investigation. As the young defendant had not been seen again by the camera leaving the school, members of the Kingston Police Emergency Response Unit conducted a thorough search inside the school to find the individual “.
Kingston police at the Frontenac High School scene on Thursday, June 9, 2022. Photos by Cris Vilela.
The investigation then found that the young man in question was not at school, according to police.
“The defendant [youth]”, as well as the other young people with whom they had arrived, left the property and separated, possibly for Bayridge High School, Bayridge Public School and / or Holy Cross High School. , and possibly through different modes of transport “. the police relayed.
As a precaution, the other schools were put “on hold and safe,” meaning no one can enter or leave the buildings.
“An additional investigation led to the defendant [youth] be located and arrested at 12:10 pm at a residence in the far west of Kingston. The defendants, however, did not have the firearm in their possession, “Kingston police said in a press release.
“The other three youths were also located and one of them had the Glock-style BB pistol in question in his possession.”
At the time, security measures were lifted at all affected schools, according to police.
As a result of the incident, a 13-year-old man was taken to Kingston Police Headquarters and arrested for attending a bail hearing tomorrow, June 10th. This young man has been accused of possessing a weapon dangerous to public peace and carrying it. a hidden weapon.
Kingston police could not say whether the other three youths were arrested or not, but they did say the youths were questioned by police.
“All students and staff were safe at all times, but we had to start a lockout to ensure safety,” Patty Gollogly, associate superintendent of safe schools at the LDSB, said in a statement.
One day like another?
“It was a normal morning, really,” said Zachary Bathurst, a 9th-grade FSS student, “like every day.”
Bathurst said lunch time began at 11 a.m .; however, he had a meeting with the school’s baseball team and had to stay in school.
“Maybe we were 15 minutes from the meeting when we heard a very loud bang. It didn’t sound like a shot at all; it was just a loud bang, which was quite confusing, but we took it out and continued,” he said.
“Unfortunately, a few moments after the announcements, we were told, ‘We’re going to a blockade.’
That is, until the sound of sirens enveloped the two-story institute. Although he and his friends “thought it was weird,” Bathurst said they still thought the situation was a sham. It wasn’t until the sound of sirens continued and it grew that he and his teammates “believed it was serious,” he shared.
With the current rise in mass shootings in the United States, parents and guardians were naturally concerned when word of the incident began to spread on social media. The students themselves were not spared from this, as most students have access to social media directly through their phones.
“We saw our friends post videos of the police outside the school. The police were armed with vests and pistols. That’s when we thought there was a serious threat,” Bathurst said.
Police at the FSS. Photos by Cris Vilela.
By this time, Bayridge High School (BSS) and Bayridge Public School (BPS) had been put on “standby and safety,” “as a precaution while Kingston police were on Frontenac SS.” according to the LDSB.
It was about an hour after the blockade was announced, Bathurst said, as police entered the school’s speaker system. All out-of-school students were told they had to enter the school through the front doors, where they would be checked by police.
“The students inside were told that they could leave their classrooms and, if the parents [were] picking them up, them [could] log out of the office and leave, “the 9th grader shared.” When I went downstairs, I closed the session and tried to leave. My principal told me I was not allowed to because we were in a “detention and security.” After about a minute, he let us go. “
Although Kingston police asked for the parents not to come to school, some had already arrived, and a few students left for the day.
Bathurst, however, said he believes the school did what they are supposed to do in these situations. Although there was “immediate panic among the students, and it was even seen that the teachers were a little worried because they did not know what was going on”, he considers that the school body received the necessary communications.
“They did a good job communicating to the students that we were in confinement. Obviously, they can’t tell us much in that situation, but they did it as best they could, and I thought they did well,” he said.
“I was doing my best to help my teammates just by reassuring them and doing everything I could.”
“The general situation was pretty crazy, to be honest with you. Like I said, I thought it was a sham at first, so I didn’t think about it, but I started listening to sirens and saw news articles, so “I knew something was going on. I was really worried that the suspect was in the building and I had no idea what his intentions were,” Bathurst continued. He and other students believed there was someone with a gun in or around the building, which other students pointed out on social media during the incident.
“I think Kingston police and all the other units handled it very well to secure the school and make sure the threat was removed.”
At approximately 12:38 p.m., FSS, BSS, and BPS returned to “regular activity” according to the LDSB. Around the same time, the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board (ALCDSB) located Holy Cross High School, also located at the west end of Kingston, in a retention and security setting.
Police on stage at Holy Cross Catholic High School on Thursday, June 9, 2022. Photos by Cris Vilela.
“A detention and security procedure has been put in place as a precautionary measure at Holy Cross Catholic High School from 12:45 to 1:03 p.m. this afternoon in response to police presence at another school. “the ALCDSB said in an email later. the afternoon.
And while all students returned to class or went home for the rest of the day and communications around the blockade were handled well, Bathurst said he did not believe what happened next was a proper response.
“The school gave us some rest, then said they were still in class. They told the parents not to pick us up. I don’t think it was an appropriate response to the situation. The school continued to classes under restraint and security for the rest of the day, “he said.
“My mother and family were scared of me and all the students, but I’m sure it would reassure them quickly.”
The first-year high school student then shared his feelings about the situation in general as opposed to the situation at FSS, looking at the safety of schools in general and what everyone is seeing happening in the US. .
“Some students stayed calm and some cried. We were discovering things from our friends outside, so it was very scary not to know what was going on … I really think the city of Kingston and everyone should know that this is not right. The school should be a place for socializing and learning, no more. Too many people are losing their lives because of the shootings in schools and it’s not good, “he said.
“It was a very scary experience that I never thought I would have to say I was a part of. But unfortunately that’s the reality.”
Although Kingston police spent a good deal of time on FSS, as well as a while on BSS and Holy Cross, as of 5:15 p.m., police have not reported what caused the situation in the first place, although an update is expected at some point. this evening. Photos taken from inside the Holy Cross appear to show police arresting a person; however, Kingston police did not confirm or deny this.
Photo of an alleged detainee, taken by a student at Holy Cross High School on Thursday, June 9, 2022. Kingston police have not confirmed or denied that an arrest was made at the school. Photo submitted.
For its part, the LDSB would like to thank the police as well as the students, parents and the community at large.
“We are grateful to the school staff for maintaining a peaceful, supportive and safe environment for our students, and to the Kingston Police for their prompt and complete …