Police Lock Down: Gun Scare at Rockridge School in West Vancouver

by Tina Kells | February 4, 2009 at 02:44 pm

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At 1pm PST police put Rockridge High School in the affluent suburb of West Vancouver on lock down after reports that as many as two people holding what appeared to be guns had entered the building.

As of 3:20pm the police sweep of Rockridge had not found any guns or gunmen on school grounds. By 3:30pm the incident was over and the school was preparing to release students, classroom by classroom, to anxious parents who had gathered at the Caulfield Village mall across the street from the school.

There were no injuries and no sign of any gunmen. All 950+ students and staff at Rockridge High School are reported to be safe.

“They’re safe, “ he said. “We’ve got lots of police inside the building.”

Harding had no information on the whereabouts of the two students. “We’re still looking. We are trying to access the validity of the phone call.”

“No one has seen two individuals with a gun. I can tell you we flooded the area very quickly.”

West Vancouver School Superintendent Geoff Jopson confirmed the school was locked down, and police are responding to calls that one or two people were seen near the school with a firearm.

West Vancouver police Cpl. Fred Harding said a witness reported seeing two youth enter the school with what appeared to be a rifle.

At 3:25pm a lone tweet from an unidentified Rockridge parent, known only as frank604, on the microblogging service Twitter offered the first sign that the lock down was coming to an end with the best possible conclusion.

Rockridge lockdown seems to be coming to an end. Police have reached my sons classroom and heard that others now out.

At 3:45pm more tweets from frank604 confirmed reports that two gunmen may have been on school grounds. His son, who was locked down in the school, did not see any gunmen and had yet to be released.

Son now out of his Rockridge classroom - cops told him it was safe. He heard that it was students with guns but saw nothing himself

Update on Rockridge. *frank604 son's name removed* has texted me to say he has been told by cops it is ok but not being let out yet.

A final tweet from frank604, just after 4pm, clearly illustrated the relief that all Rockridge parents must be feeling with the lock down over and their children out of harms way. His own son reported to be safe but hungry.

*frank604 son's name removed* is a teenage boy and having been in a lockdown at Rockridge he is now starving. No signs of mental trauma then :)

A statement from the West Vancouver School Board did not address the reports of gunmen in the building and instead stated that the school was put on lock down after a perceived threat outside on school grounds. As of 3pm PST students had not yet been released from the school and parents were asked NOT to call their children on cell phones.

At approximately 1:00 pm on Wednesday, February 4, 2009, Rockridge Secondary School initiated a lockdown of the school on the request of the West Vancouver Police Department.
The lockdown was ordered in response to a report to the police by a community member who observed an event in the area surrounding Rockridge Secondary that could possibly be construed as an immediate risk.

We ask parents and guardians to help ensure their children's safety by NOT using cell phones to contact their children. We also ask parents not to approach the area, as a mobile command unit is in place, and you will not be able to enter the site.

Breaking Story Report: February 4, 2009 - 2pm

There have been no reports of shots fired or injuries but police still have the school shut down as they conduct a room to room search for the suspects. It is still unclear at this point if there are any gunmen at all, the number of suspects, or if they are in or just near the school, but police are not taking any chances.

Some students have been evacuated and are being asked to remain near the school for questioning. The evacuated students are being supervised by school staff. Other students have been kept in the school by police while they conduct the search. Students inside the school have been instructed to not use their cell phones.

The West Vancouver School Board has issued a statement to parents that the situation is under control and that any new developments will be posted to the Rockridge High School website. As of 2:45pm the website had no updates.

Update: Feb 4, 2009 - 3pm

Several tweets about helicopters over Rockridge School. Most likely news helicopters.

Update: Feb 4, 2009 - 3:15pm

West Vancouver Police are conducting a final sweep of Rockridge High School and a press conference is expected shortly.

The Vancouver Sun Online reports that the lockdown may have been triggered by reports of a bomb threat, although such an incident would normally result in an evacuation. The lock down is expected to be lifted soon and students will be released in accordance with School District 45 emergency release procedures.

A full Emergency Response Tactical team, as well as members of the West Vancouver Police department and the RCMP, have surrounded Rockridge Secondary School, many members with weapons drawn.

Some of the students have been evacuated from the school, and are now waiting across the street for information. Many staff and students are reportedly still inside.

West Vancouver School Superintendent Geoff Jopson confirms the school is locked down, and police are responding to calls that one or two people were seen near the school with a firearm.

A student inside the school told CTV News he heard two people entered the school with what looked like guns.

Jopson says police are conducting a room-to-room sweep of the entire school to make sure there is no one with a weapon inside.

Update: Feb 4, 2009 - 6:15pm

After an hours-long search of the school premises and all the students, no weapons were found at Rockridge. The lockdown may have been the result of a neighbourhood resident seeing a "rifle-like" object being held by a student:

A nearby resident called police at about 1 p.m. PT, saying two teenagers were walking toward the school and one of them was holding a rifle-like object, West Vancouver police said.

Police did not locate the two individuals identified by the 911 caller.

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158

at 16:32 on February 4th, 2009

These incidents are always scary, even when there was no danger.

But better to react quickly than chance someone getting killed.

Tina Kells

at 16:38 on February 4th, 2009

Yes, I will be hugging my daughter extra tight tonight. This one hits very close to home since I grew up in West Van and my kids still go to church on the North Shore.