Toronto police are looking for two suspects after gunshots had been fired inside an Etobicoke highschool late Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurred at Silverthorne Collegiate Institute at 291 Mill Rd., simply south of Burnhamthorpe Street.
Talking with the media outdoors the varsity on Tuesday night, Appearing Insp. Saleem Husain, of Toronto Police Service (TPS), mentioned police had been known as to the handle at round 4 p.m., after courses had been completed for the day, after receiving stories of a firearm discharge in a stairwell in addition to two masked people who had been seen contained in the constructing.
Husain mentioned officers “responded quickly” and located “evidence of a firearm discharge.”
The suspects are believed to have fled the world, police mentioned. No suspect description has been launched right now.
No accidents had been reported.
“At this time, there is no indication that anybody was injured in this incident,” mentioned Husain.
“The school was placed in lockdown as at the time there were approximately 120 people inside the school: 60 involved with a basketball game and 60 preparing for what was supposed to be open house taking place tonight.”
In a letter to oldsters and guardian, Mark Varvas, the varsity’s principal, mentioned the entire doorways had been locked on the time to make sure the protection of scholars and employees, and people taking part in basketball within the fitness center.
Husain mentioned officers did an preliminary sweep of the constructing, adopted by members of the Emergency Job Drive who then “proceeded to go room by room, clearing to ensure no suspects remain and that everybody was safe inside the school.”
“As the people were released from the school, their conditions were checked on to make sure they were okay and they were escorted out of the school,” Husain mentioned.
The lockdown was lifted at round 6:45 p.m., Varvas mentioned.
Police mentioned all college students and employees have now been safely faraway from the constructing.
“The safety and well-being of students and staff is always our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution, there will be a police presence at the school tomorrow and social work staff will be available to support students as needed,” he wrote.
Husain added that TPS’s Caring and Protected Faculty Committee will probably be out there at Silverthorne C.I. on Wednesday. Representatives from SafeTO, the Metropolis of Toronto’s Neighborhood Security and Wellbeing Plan, have additionally been notified, he mentioned.
“We understand how much of a concern this incident will be and we are throwing multiple resources at it. Our Guns and Gangs team has taken over the investigation,” he mentioned, including police are taking this investigation “very seriously.”
“At this time, we’re looking for assistance from the public. If anybody was driving by around 4 p.m. that might have dashcam video we would request them to forward it to us.”
Toronto police are asking anybody with info to contact them at 416-808-2200 or Crime Stoppers anonymously.
