3 students arrested, airsoft gun seized at Barrhaven high school

Some scary moments for teens at St. Mother Teresa High School as report of someone with a gun led to a lockdown. CTV’s Kimberley Fowler reports.

The Ottawa Police Service says three students were arrested following a report of a student with a gun at a Barrhaven high school.

Police were called to St. Mother Teresa High School on Longfields Drive Thursday afternoon. The school went into a lockdown while a search was performed. A nearby school was also locked down as a precaution, police said.

As a result of the investigation, an airsoft or pellet gun was seized. Police said the gun was not used at or inside the school and no one was reported hurt.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board says a separate medical emergency occurred at the same time, but it was unrelated to the police investigation and was managed by school staff and emergency responders, including Ottawa paramedics.

One of the arrested students has since been released, according to police.

Ottawa police say the investigation remains ongoing. Charges have not been announced.

“We take very seriously any actions that threaten the safety of our community, like using a real, replica, or imitation firearm to commit a crime or intimidate someone,” police said on social media.

Principal Wanda Symes said everyone at the school is safe.

“Ottawa Police Services responded quickly and took control of the situation. After a thorough investigation, police confirmed no on-going threat to student or staff safety and provided the all-clear to lift the lockdown. The school then moved into Secure School status while police completed their response,” Symes said in an email to parents and guardians.

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