A 17-year-old boy is facing seven weapons charges after police seized a loaded firearm at a high school in Bedford, N.S.
Before classes started, police received an anonymous tip that a teen may be in possession of a firearm at Charles P. Allen High School. Officers arrived on scene around 9 a.m.
“We received an anonymous tip this morning through CrimeStoppers that potentially a student, without any further description, may be carrying a firearm,” says Const. Pierre Bourdages.
Officers shared the information with staff and a suspect was eventually brought to the principal’s office.
Police say they found a loaded sawed-off rifle and a knife in his backpack. The teen was arrested without incident around noon.
“The student came down, they had identified who the threat was,” says Halifax Regional School Board spokesman Doug Hadley. “The student expressed remorse for bringing the weapon to the building and there was a large police presence at the school so they felt that they could continue with their normal operation.”
Hadley says the student’s motive isn’t clear.
“We don’t have any indication that there’s an ongoing dispute with any student or anybody at the school, there were no threats made,” says Hadley.
“There was no indication or evidence there was any threat or any intention to use the weapons at the school,” says Bourdages.
While Hadley and Bourdages say there doesn’t appear to have been any threat towards students or staff, some parents and students are questioning why the school wasn’t on lockdown while police were attempting to identify a suspect.
“I was a little nervous because I wasn’t sure why we didn’t find out sooner and why we didn’t go into lockdown, but I mean, I’m sure they had it under control,” says student Josh Doucette.
Some parents are also upset school officials didn’t notify them about the situation.
“It’s concerning that I had to find out from my husband and not a school official,” says parent Helen Kelley.
“We were not notified of this. We just found out over social media,” says parent Penny Raymond. “It’s ridiculous how we’re finding out.”
Hadley says parents will receive an automated message Thursday evening, explaining what happened.
The teen has been charged with seven Criminal Code offences:
- Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose
- Careless use of a firearm
- Carrying a weapon while attending a public meeting
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Unauthorized possession of a firearm
- Possession of a firearm knowing it is unauthorized
- Possession of a prohibited weapon
He will appear in court Friday morning.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Rick Grant
