Central Middle School in downtown Victoria was placed under lockdown this afternoon after a 40-year-old man entered the building and ‘exhibited concerning behaviour.’
The incident unfolded just after 12:30 p.m. on Monday October 21st.
According to VicPD, they received multiple calls from inside the school reporting the presence of the unknown man. In response, school officials initiated lockdown procedures to ensure the safety of students and staff.
VicPD officers, along with the Greater Victoria Emergency Response Team (GVERT), arrived at the scene within minutes.
The man was found in the school library and appeared to be in a drug-induced state, according to police.
After resisting arrest, officers deployed a conductive energy weapon (CEW), commonly referred to as a taser, to subdue the individual. He was taken into custody and medically assessed by BC Emergency Health Services while being held in VicPD cells.
The entire situation was resolved quickly, with the suspect apprehended within five minutes of the initial call. Police confirmed that the man was not armed, and no students or staff members were injured during the incident.
There are no ongoing safety concerns for the school or the surrounding community. Witnesses told Victoria Buzz that they saw dozens of armed officers converge on the school.
“Our thoughts are with the students, faculty and staff who experienced this distressing incident today,” said Chief Del Manak.
“Schools should be safe environments for learning, and incidents like this have no place in our schools. I’m proud of our officers and their quick response today, and grateful that this situation was resolved without harm to anyone involved.”
Thank you to the @vicpdcanada officers who responded to the incident at Central Middle School today. We are grateful for their expertise and quick response in providing support to the individual in distress and ensuring the safety of the school. https://t.co/CGjwFfb970
— Greater Victoria School District (@sd61schools) October 21, 2024
While the incident caused understandable concern, the lockdown was lifted after the situation was resolved, allowing students and staff to return to their regular activities without further disruption.
