A 14-year-old teenager who tried to make a really bad joke by strolling through a Blainville high school in a mask forced the facility to close for nearly an hour Wednesday.
At about 3:05 p.m., a citizen called 911 to report the presence of a suspicious person wearing a balaclava and “armed with a machete” near Lucille-Teasdale High School, said Sara Tousignant, spokeswoman Blainville City Police Department.
Police ordered the introduction of a “Code Black” at the school and forced the lockdown of the building, where hundreds of students are staying.
“A joke about his friends”
“Approximately 20 minutes later, the 14-year-old was located by police in the woods near the school. The individual was transported by police to meet with investigators,” Ms. Tousignant said.
According to the first information collected by the police, the suspect wanted to “play a bad prank on his friends,” specifies Ms. Tousignant
“This is an individual who previously attended school but attended a different high school on the North Shore. After raking we found a piece of wood. It may not have been a machete, but a piece of wood that he was holding in his hands.”
The lockdown was finally lifted at around 3:50 p.m.
“It has consequences”
Blainville police were scheduled to meet the arrested teen Wednesday evening.
“After their meeting, investigators will consider whether charges may be filed. At 14 years old he is subject to the Criminal Code,” concludes Ms. Tousignant.
Michel Arbic, whose daughter attends the second secondary school at the facility, was on his way home when he saw the large police presence as he passed the school.
“I tried to approach my daughter and her in a natural way [les élèves] don’t have a cell phone with you. “It’s not pleasant because you want everything to be right,” says the father, who was nevertheless satisfied with the work of the school and the police under the circumstances.
Mr. Arbic hopes that the suspect who caused this riot will face consequences.
“The boy could have been shot. It’s not a joke, it’s not even imaginable. In my opinion this has consequences […]. At this age, parents are responsible for their child.”
This is the third time in nine days that a high school in the Greater Montreal area has been placed under a preventative lockdown.
On October 16, another bad joke put the André Laurendeau School in Longueuil on alert. The next day the Jacques Rousseau School had to barricade itself. A 16-year-old girl was subsequently arrested.
Student Support
The Mille-Îles School Service Center (CSSMI) did not respond to questions from the Journal on Wednesday evening.
The management of the Lucille Teasdale School initially sent an email to the parents of the students a few minutes after the end of the lockdown to inform them of the situation.
“Students and staff were safe throughout the operation. Please be assured that students who feel the need will be supported by school staff. […] “The school cannot provide any further information,” it says.
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