Esquimalt High School on lockdown after a reported robbery on Nov. 6.
Esquimalt High School is no longer under a lockdown but police are still searching for a robbery suspect.
The high school was placed on a lockdown at around 12 p.m. after police received a report of a robbery in the 800-block of Colville Road in Esquimalt. Victoria police tweeted at around 1:20 p.m. that the containment had been lifted but they were still looking for a suspect.
.@Esqhigh is in "Lock Down". Police are checking the premises to ensure student safety. Please do not go to the school at this time. #yyj
— Greater Victoria SD (@sd61schools) November 6, 2017
UPDATE: Police are at @Esqhigh securing the school and will move to "hold & secure" when it is determined the schools is safe to do so. #yyj
— Greater Victoria SD (@sd61schools) November 6, 2017
Police said the students at Esquimalt High School are safe and there were no injuries. Some parents tweeted that their kids were hiding under tables and in classrooms during the lockdown.
Lockdown at my kid's school. Way to freak a mama out. #yyj @vicpdcanada please tell me things are okay? pic.twitter.com/MhNd6vyCNe
— Alisa Gordaneer (@gordaneer) November 6, 2017
Victoria West Elementary School was placed in a hold-and-secure mode as a precaution while police attempted to locate the suspect. Paramedics were also called to Esquimalt High School for a medical call that wasn’t “directly related” to the incident.
BC Ambulance paramedics are on scene at @Esqhigh for a medical call. Not directly related to the ongoing incident. #F1747951
— Victoria Police (@vicpdcanada) November 6, 2017
The high school has now resumed its fourth period and the hold-and-secure at the elementary school has been lifted.
Victoria police have taped off Carrie Street while they continue their search for the suspect. The robbery was originally reported to have occurred at the high school but police said the investigation now indicates that it occurred in close proximity to the high school. Police later said the suspect was armed with a knife when he stole a girl’s backpack at a nearby street.
The girl was not injured and she reported the theft to school officials.
The suspect is described by police as a man with dark short hair. He was wearing a black sweater, blue jeans and had a bandana with red flames, police said.
According to police, there was no indication that the suspect had a gun.
Police tape on Carrie Street after a report of a robbery on Nov. 6.
Alexa Huffman
