‘False alarm’: No gunshots fired at Thousand Islands Secondary School

The Brockville Police Service says that a lockdown that took place at Thousand Islands Secondary School on Tuesday, Nov. 19 was the product of a false alarm.

Police were called to the school shortly after 2 p.m. on Tuesday following reports of gunshots. A lockdown was initiated as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all staff and students.

“Following a thorough investigation, police can confirm that the incident was a false alarm,” a media release says. “No gunshots were fired, and there was no threat to public safety. All students and staff are safe.”

An email to parents from the school explains that the lockdown was lifted at 3:05 p.m.

“Near the end of the school day, we had a medical emergency, and an ambulance was called to our school,” the email explains.

Unrelated to that incident, a student thought they heard a gunshot, which was reported to police.

“Although staff members did not hear this noise, the school moved into a lockdown out of an abundance of caution,” the school explains.

During a lockdown, students and staff are in classrooms or secured rooms, with doors locked. Nobody is allowed in or out of the school and police do a thorough sweep. The lockdown is lifted when all areas of the school have been inspected.