Vancouver's McBride Elementary School was put into lockdown today due to a suspicious incident.
The principal of the school called 9-1-1 at about 10 a.m. to report that a man, unknown to the school, entered the school and walked into a classroom. Although several students were in the classroom, the man remained inside, according to the Vancouver Police Department.
The teachers safely evacuated the classroom, and then school staff initiated lockdown procedures for the entire school to ensure the safety of staff and students.
“Coincidentally, when this call came in, the VPD’s School Liaison officers were running lockdown training and drills at nearby Killarney Secondary School,” says Constable Tania Visintin, VPD. “As such, they arrived on scene within minutes.”
Police were able to confine the man in the classroom and then arrest him without incident.
“As stressful and frightening as this was, school staff and administration did a great job of following the procedures and keeping the students safe,” adds Visintin. “We commend them for their quick thinking and calm, measured approach. Thankfully, this incident was resolved safely.”
The 32-year-old man was apprehended by police under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for psychiatric assessment.
