Threats to shoot students found on a desk at Hunting Hills High School forced police to do a massive sweep and passively evacuate students from the school on Wednesday afternoon.
“RCMP members and the Police Dog Service have now completed their search of Hunting Hills High School and they did not find any items or individuals that would pose a danger to students or staff at the school. No one was injured as a result of this incident,” Red Deer City RCMP reported at about 6 p.m.
Just before the start of Easter break, students at the high school at 150 Lockwood Ave. were greeted by a heavy police presence at about 3 p.m. as officers responding to the threat patrolled the area and school.
One student at the school, Kylie Gooch, told the Red Deer Advocate that a random student had written a note on a desk threatening to shoot students in the school.
Gooch and a friend, among the last to leave the school on Wednesday, were told to leave at about 4 p.m. by police and when they exited the building they saw numerous other police officers.
The school was never locked down.
Police said that numerous Red Deer RCMP responded to the scene in response to an anonymous note indicating a threat to several students at the high school.
They contained the scene with police vehicles stationed near all of the school’s exits as well as the nearby Collicutt Centre. Uniformed officers patrolled inside the school while others monitored the crowds of students as they left the school.
Once police ensured all students had left the building, re-entry was not allowed for anyone. Extra-curricular activities planned for the evening were cancelled.
At one point an officer wearing camouflaged clothing arrived in a large dark SUV.
Many students who left the school were unaware of why there was such a large police presence, but they left following their normal routine.
Hunting Hills High School has more than 1,400 students and 125 staff members .Students are off Thursday for Easter break.
RCMP said updates will be provided as more information becomes available during the course of the investigation.
Anyone with information that may assist RCMP in the investigation of the incident is asked to call 403-343-5575. If people want to remain anonymous, they can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or report it online at www.tipsubmit.com.