For some students at Citadel High School in Halifax, the arrest of a youth charged in connection to an alleged weapons threat towards the building earlier this week is still weighing on their minds.
Halifax police confirmed Thursday they responded the previous morning after receiving what they called credible information about a threat directed generally at the school.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested, and officers say they found firearms, ammunition and other weapons. They have not said how many weapons were seized or whether they were legal or restricted.
There was a police presence at the school Thursday, but officers were no longer on-site Friday.
“I was kind of surprised because I didn’t know what was going on,” one student said.
“They made an announcement about it, and I didn’t know so I looked it up on the Internet,” another student said. “Had to figure out what was going on [since] I didn’t know why police were there.”
Some students say they were surprised and unsettled by the news, while others say school-related threats are starting to feel more common.
“I feel like it does happen quite a bit, but I feel like this time it’s more serious because someone was arrested,” said one student.
“I feel like it was kind of just more of a threat, probably trying to get attention,” said another.
The youth made an appearance in court Thursday, where he will be required to return on April 30 for a bail hearing.
“To think a 16-year-old would do something like that is insane,” a student said.
“Doing something like that at a young age can really ruin your career for you, so I was shocked and kind of sad at the same time,” another said.
Since the person charged is underage, police say their identity and case details are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The Halifax police chief would not confirm whether the individual is a student at Citadel High.
CTV News’ Public Safety Analyst Chris Lewis said that kind of limited information is expected in youth cases.
“For the best interest of the safety and the feeling of the school and the staff, he should release as much information as he legally can, and if he can’t- he can’t,” said Lewis.
Lewis added that while threats involving schools have become more frequent in recent years, it does not mean school are becoming dangerous places.
“Some of that is due to less access to guns here in Canada. Guns are in every household in the United States so its easier for kids to get guns,” he said.
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
