The Halton Regional Police Service conducted an extensive search of the White Oaks Secondary School area in Oakville, responding to reports of a man with a firearm at the south campus. While searching the area, the police put the school under lockdown, while nearby schools were put on hold and secure.
During the investigation, the officers found a 16 year old with a replica handgun. They put the teen into custody and seized the replica.
At the time of the report, police did not know if the firearm was real or a replica.
After an hour, the lockdown and the hold and secures at all other schools were lifted.
For more information, read the news release below:
On May 31 at 2:30 p.m., the Halton Regional Police Service received reports of a male with a firearm at the south campus of White Oaks Secondary School in Oakville. At the time of the report, it was not known if the weapon was real or a replica.
White Oaks Secondary School was placed on lockdown, and nearby schools were put on hold and secure.
Officers completed an extensive search of White Oaks Secondary School and the surrounding area. A 16-year-old male was located on the school property and was placed in custody. A replica handgun was seized by police. The male is potentially facing weapons-related charges.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., the lockdown at White Oaks Secondary School and the hold and secures at all other schools were lifted.
There is no known, ongoing, related threat to public safety.
The investigation is still ongoing, and members of the public should expect continued police presence in the area. We thank the community for their patience and cooperation.
The Halton Regional Police Service would like to remind members of the public that replica firearms pose a significant threat to the community. They appear to be real to both public and the police members. When police receive reports of a potential firearm, officers must respond assuming they are real, which increases the risk to the person in possession of the replica firearm, the police, and members of the public.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the 2 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777 ext. 2216.
