Lockdown lifted at Oakwood Collegiate after gunshots in area

September 13, 2024 Canuck

A public high school returned to normal operations after it was locked down Friday due to reports of gunshots near the school, according to the school board and police.

Police received reports of a “fight or an altercation” that happened on the road on Rosemount Avenue near Highview Crescent, Duty Insp. Jeff Bassingthwaite told reporters. Rosemount runs along the south side of Oakwood Collegiate Institute.

The altercation involved people in a vehicle and a group of people on the sidewalk, Bassingthwaite said, and officers learned gunshots were shot out of the vehicle.

A dark-coloured sedan was seen fleeing the area westbound on Rosemount Avenue, Toronto police said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

“There were many young people that were in the area during this time as a result of the school in close proximity being on lunch hour,” Bassingthwaite said.

“However, we are happy to report there are absolutely no injuries that we are aware of.”

Oakwood Collegiate was put into lockdown during the investigation, Bassingthwaite said, but it was lifted after police determined there were no suspects in the area.

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said in a letter to parents the lockdown was converted to a “hold and secure” at 1:30 p.m., and students resumed classes as usual around 2 p.m.

“As you know, the safety of our students and staff is a top priority at Oakwood CI. We will continue to take every precaution to ensure our school remains a learning environment that is safe, nurturing, positive and respectful,” the letter said.

This incident comes four days after a 16-year-old boy was shot in a Scarborough high school parking lot, which prompted lockdowns at six nearby schools in the moments that followed.

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