OPP Constable @Jimroot29 says police responded to weapons call. NO knife was found. ALL students are safe. #cklw pic.twitter.com/tuLjUVxi7J
— Teresinha Medeiros (@tmedeiros800) May 9, 2017
Provincial Police have left L'Essor high school following a weapons call.
Essex County OPP Constable Jim Root says police received a weapons call at the school around 11:40am.
"A call from L'Essor staff that there was what was believed to be a young person on school grounds carrying what they thought at the time was a knife," says Root. "[Officers] surrounded the school — made entry — and have spoken to all of the involved parties, at this point," says Root. "The investigation is continuing and no weapon has been located — nor can we confirm at this point that there ever was a weapon."
Grade 11 Student Madison McDougall says the OPP SWAT team went into the classroom to grab a couple of students.
"We got into third period and they called a code rouge, a code red, and the room went black and we sat under the desks very quiet," says McDougall. "It was scary, the SWAT team came into our class and grabbed a couple of students."
AM800's Teresinha Medeiros spoke with Grade 10 Student Rose Simard who said it was scary.
"We did hide into a corner, we bundled in a corner and we put cardboard in front of the door, there is a small window in the door so if the person could see inside so its to try to make sure they don't see us."
Students say they are trained on what to do in this situation.
The lockdown was lifted just after 1pm.
(Photo by AM800's Teresinha Medeiros)
Student speaks with AM800 News following lockdown at L'Essor high school in Tecumseh, May 9, 2017 (Photo by AM800's Teresinha Medeiros)