Student injured in alleged armed robbery near Barrie high school, police seeking suspects

Police in Barrie are hoping to identify the people involved in an alleged armed robbery that resulted in one person being taken to the hospital and a high school in lockdown Tuesday.

According to police, officers responded to a report about a robbery near Innisdale Secondary School in the area of Little Avenue and Bayview Drive around noon.

Authorities say initial reports indicated there may have been individuals with weapons inside the school, but they later determined that to be false. As a precaution, the school was immediately placed in lockdown as police investigated the situation.

Officers were seen on the school’s property and in the area of Lackie’s Bush, a forested area across the road from the school.

Police confirmed a male student suffered non-life-threatening injuries sustained in an incident involving a weapon, though they would not disclose the type of weapon used.

Four students were arrested and brought to police headquarters for questioning. Police say they were later released unconditionally after it was determined the students were at the scene at the time of the incident, but were not involved.

The lockdown was lifted roughly an hour and a half later.

Police say they are taking the situation very seriously and detectives are working diligently to locate the suspects.

“There is an ongoing fluid criminal investigation that is underway,” Barrie police spokesperson Peter Leon told CTV News.

A lockdown is issued in serious situations where there is a potential threat inside a school or very near to a school property. During a lockdown, students and staff are to remain out of sight and take shelter, with lights turned off and blinds drawn. All interior and exterior doors are locked to prevent entry or exit from the building.

“These precautions are standard practice during any lockdown,” the school principal stated in a letter sent to parents following the incident. “When the lockdown ended, the school day continued as usual.”