Lockdown lifted at Scarborough high school, suspect outstanding, police say

An aerial view of Toronto police cruisers on the scene of Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts. (CP24 Chopper)

Toronto police are searching for a suspect who was seen carrying a gun at a Scarborough high school, which caused a temporary lockdown on Tuesday afternoon.

Police say they were called to Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts, at 1176 Pharmacy Ave., just north of Lawrence Avenue East, just before noon after a gun was seen at the school.

Just before 2:05 p.m., the Toronto District School Board announced the lockdown had ended.

In a letter to parents and guardians after the lockdown, the school’s principal said a student had seen someone with a weapon in the building.

“As the lockdown was initiated during lunch time, students who returned to the school from lunch offsite were redirected to our evacuation site at Maryvale Public School,” Principal Nandanee Sawh wrote.

Once police established there was no “credible” threat to the school, the lockdown was lifted and classes resumed.

“We always want to take every precaution to ensure the safety of our students and staff,” Sawh said. “We will continue to take any necessary steps to ensure our students and staff are safe.”

There are no reported injuries.

In an update, Toronto police say they did not locate a firearm after searching the school.

Despite that, the person seen with the gun remains outstanding. Police describe the male suspect as being five-foot-seven with blonde hair, and was last seen wearing a blue shirt and black pants.