Abbotsford Senior Secondary students and staff are being praised for following safety protocols in the wake of a school stabbing that left one student dead and another injured.
The school went into an hours-long lockdown Tuesday, after an intruder entered the school and attacked two female students. One, identified as 13-year-old Letisha Reimer, later died.
As the tragedy unfolded, everyone appeared to know what to do when world spread of an attack.
“The way the whole system worked, it was amazing, it was fast,” said Grade 12 student Baneet Braich.
She said prior lockdown drills at school helped prepare students.
“Sometimes kids don’t take them seriously so knowing that this was possible that it happened shows us why security is so important,” Braich told CTV Vancouver.
School district superintendent Kevin Godden said the school was prepared for when the unimaginable became a reality.
“You can practice this all you want – when the real thing happens, it’s the ultimate test and I am so proud of our staff and the police for the manner in which they responded,” Godden said in a news conference.
Officials said school staff confronted the 21-year-old suspect and restrained him until police arrived and took him into custody.
British Columbia Premier Christy Clark said that emergency planning conducted in schools “had an impact in this case.”
Clark also called two staffers who intervened “heroes,” and said they likely saved more lives.
Despite the praise, school safety procedures are under scrutiny following the violent incident.
Clark she wants more details from investigators before deciding whether policies should change.
“We will do whatever we can to make sure this kind of thing can’t happen in schools in British Columbia,” Clark said at a news conference.
In Abbotsford, side doors at schools are unlocked, but visitors are directed to register at the school reception.
“Some decision will be made in the not-too-distant future as to whether our protocols were successful and or whether they need to be changed.”
Until then, all exterior doors at Abbotsford schools will remain locked with entry only at main entrances.
With files from CTV Vancouver’s Penny Daflos
