London police say they’ve laid a dozen charges against a 16-year-old after witnesses said the teenager brought a weapon to school.
Officers were called to Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School Tuesday for a student with a gun.
“I saw police officers walking out the school and some of them, like, I don’t think they were wearing police outfits, but they were wearing like, other outfits, like kind of undercover. And then I realized that they were cops,” said Grade 11 student Sami Abou-Kowik.
Speaking with CTV News outside their high school, students said they’re concerned after a 16-year-old was allegedly seen at school with a firearm.
“That’s crazy, very dangerous,” said Grade 9 student Nihyla Dowdie.
London police say they responded to a weapons call at a school near Millbank Drive and Southdale Road East after the principal made a weapons report.
“Officers responded and learned that a student had been in possession of what appeared to be a firearm while at the school before leaving on foot,” explained Const. Matthew Dawson with the London Police Service.
Dawon said the suspect was eventually located near his home, but no weapons were found.
Later in the evening, investigators searched the house and seized a loaded Glock handgun, sawed off shot gun, 22 caliber rifle, and ammunition.
“It makes me feel very unsafe, just like knowing that there could be weapons with other students maybe in my classes,” said Abou-Kowik.
In a statement to CTV News, the school board said, “Student safety and well-being remain the Thames Valley District School Board’s highest priority. As this is an ongoing police matter, we defer to the London Police Service for any further details about this incident.”
“There are a lot of kids that go here, and that could have been more serious of an event,” said school custodian Mark Rosehart.
Police say there is no danger to public safety. The teen was held in custody and was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
