Lockdown at New Westminster high school leaves pupils 'a little bit scared'
Police search for young teen thought to be armed
Last Updated: Thursday, April 10, 2008 | 6:47 PM PT
CBC News
A 16-year-old student on Thursday described the tense moments that followed a police lockdown order at her high school in New Westminster, B.C.
Looking out from their classroom are some of the students who were locked inside a New Westminster, B.C., high school on Thursday.
(CBC)
The decision to keep students locked inside their classrooms was prompted by the alleged sighting of an armed student on the grounds of New Westminster Secondary School at around 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
It stranded hundreds of students in darkened classroom as anxious parents waited for news.
"We had to be quiet in case anyone came around,'' said Grade 11 student Rachel Vasey.
As she waited silently in the company of her teacher, Vasey said students didn't take the lockdown order seriously, at least not initially.
But as time went by without any news, the mood began to change.
"After about half an hour, everyone was beginning to get a little bit scared,'' she said.
That sentiment was shared by waiting parents like Tim Davidson, whose son, a grade 10 student, was also locked inside his classroom.
"It's very upsetting,'' he said. "The first thing that goes through my mind is, "Is my son safe?"
Vasey said some students were able to use their cellphones to keep in touch with relatives by sending and receiving text messages.
By around 4:00 p.m., police began an evacuation of the school, telling students to report to their parents immediately. Parents had gathered at a nearby senior citizens home to await updates from authorities.
Police are now searching for a suspect described as a possible student, thought to be 14 years old, and wearing baggy pants and a bandana.
No guns have been found and no one has been hurt.
The school is expected to remain closed on Friday.
