‘It really did traumatize a lot of people’: Students describe fear, confusion during lockdown at Kitchener high school following swatting call

Students are now speaking out after their high school was placed under lockdown Monday, describing it as confusing and frightening. CTV's Karis Mapp reports.

Students at a Kitchener high school are describing fear and confusion after a report of a person with a gun prompted a lockdown that lasted several hours.

Grand River Collegiate Institute was placed under lockdown Monday while Waterloo Regional Police investigated the call.

“We had a first-period spare and all the classrooms were locked, so we went down to the basement and that’s when we started hearing cops” one student told CTV News.

“They eventually came down. There were maybe three or four of them. They had pistols, and other guns and they just kind of escorted us up and sent us outside.”

Another student said he did not know the details of the situation but saw a large police presence outside the school.

Grade 12 student Sabrina James said there was confusion when the lockdown announcement first came over the classroom speaker system.

She said many students began texting loved ones and checking social media for updates.

“Going into lockdown, you just have a perspective of okay, is this going to be my last day? We don’t know what’s going on, we don’t know if someone’s in the school right now with a gun. Anything could happen in the moment,” James said.

James said she and her classmates sat on the floor of their classroom for hours while police investigated.

“Throughout the whole experience I was very nervous. I will say, when the cops came and checked on us, it kind of gave me a better view on things because I’m like okay, now I know that we’re safe,” she explained.

Grand River Collegiate remained under lockdown for about three hours. Six nearby elementary schools were also placed under a hold-and-secure order while police investigated.

In an emailed statement to CTV News, the Waterloo Region District School Board said student and staff safety remains its top priority.

“The safety and well-being of WRDSB students and staff are our top priority,” the statement read in part. “These schools remained in lockdown or hold and secure until we were assured by [the] Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) that it was safe to return to their regular school routines.”

Police later determined the incident was likely a swatting call.

“Officers responded and searched the school, clearing it. No suspect was located. As a result of the continuing investigation, investigators believe that this was a swatting incident,” said Const. Melissa Quarrie with WRPS.

Swatting refers to a false report intended to trigger a large police response.

James said the experience left many students shaken.

“A lot of people think that it’s just a funny joke to play because nothing’s really going to happen. But then as we know, it got to this extent and I think it really did traumatize a lot of people,” she said.

Police say these types of calls can lead to criminal charges, including public mischief or uttering threats.

“These are serious incidents. We respond to them as if they are in fact happening. It causes great concern among first responders. It causes fear and consternation among the student population, as well as for parents for their children who are present at the school during the time,” Quarrie explained.

Students who experienced Monday’s lockdown say they hope something like this does not happen again.

“No one should be afraid to step out of their house to go to school,” James said. “Now that this has happened, I think a lot of people will be scared and that’s the reality of it.”