Thursday October 8, 2020 | LANGFORD, BC [Updated 9:20 am]
by Mary Brooke, editor | Island Social Trends
On Wednesday October 6 around 3:30 pm –– after school had been dismissed for the day — West Shore RCMP received a report of a student apparently brandishing a handgun in the school yard of Ruth King Elementary located at 2764 Jacklin Rd in central Langford.
The call came from a concerned adult who was in the area and witnessed a male youth standing with a group of friends who had pulled out a hand gun that was tucked into his waistband. Reportedly the teen told the group of youth not to worry as it was not loaded.
Numerous West Shore RCMP frontline officers flooded the area immediately and located the young male teen right away, said West Shore RCMP Media Relations Officer Cst Nancy Saggar in a news release.
“Police must treat all weapons reports as if they are real until determined otherwise,” said Cst Saggar.
Teen not a student at Ruth King:
The 13-year-old is not a student of at Ruth King Elementary (where only students in Kindergarten to Grade 5 attend). The teen was arrested for possessing a weapon dangerous to the public. The gun turned out to be a replica firearm and was seized by police.
The youth’s parents were called and they met with police.
“Outside of school hours, the community is welcome to take advantage of the large fields and playgrounds at our schools, so long as it is done safely and respectfully of others and our neighbours” says Scott Stinson, Superintendent, Sooke School District 62 (SD62). “Parents/guardians are responsible for their children outside of school hours.”
Arrested but not charged:
“Although this was a replica gun and no one was threatened or harmed in this incident, police educated the youth on the dangers of possessing and displaying a replica handgun, especially near a school,” says Cst Saggar.
She adds: “In this case the youth was arrested to ensure everyone’s safety while police conducted their investigation. The youth will not be charged.”
The youth recognized the error in his behaviour and apologized for the incident. The Sooke School District 62 (SD62) Safe Schools Coordinator and school administration has been updated, said Cst Saggar.
About Ruth King Elementary:
Ruth King Elementary is located on a busy street in the older core area of Langford. The Principal is Vicki Ives, and the Vice-Principal is Ceilidh Deichmann. There are 15 teachers and several other support staff. Picture day was on October 5.
This year there are 319 students registered at Ruth King Elementary, says SD62 administration.
There are no extra-curricular activities listed on the school website during this time of COVID physical-distancing.
The school has been the site of other police-related incidents in recent years (including a stabbing in June 2019).
RCMP File # 2020-17469