Guelph police apprehended three males after what was believed to be a handgun was seen in the parking lot at Our Lady of Lourdes High School on Wednesday.
Five area schools, including Our Lady of Lourdes, were placed in a ‘hold and secure' mode for about 45 minutes following the sighting.
Police say the school's principal called in shortly after noon following reports a male had been seen with a handgun in a vehicle in the parking lot.
Guelph Police Sgt. Doug Pflug says "One of his teachers saw a student brandishing what appeared to be a handgun."
A police investigation found a male in a black SUV had brandished what appeared to be a handgun in front of several students.
The male responsible was not a student at Our Lady of Lourdes.
By the time police arrived the vehicle had left the scene, however it was located about 45 minutes later in the south end of Guelph.
Pflug says "Our officers were able to set up a containment and our tactical officers, who were on a training exercise in the area, were able to do a high-risk takedown of the three occupants in the vehicle."
Murray Rody was working nearby and witnessed the police stopping the vehicle; he says it was a scary scene.
"I saw a lot of police cruisers chasing the black SUV and they cornered it and all the guys ran out and within seconds the SWAT team was here."
Three teens, ages 16 and 17, were taken into custody without incident. There is no word yet on charges.
Later Wednesday afternoon an ‘Airsoft' replica Smith & Wesson revolver was seized at a residence on Wellington Road 30.
Pflug says "These toys can be perceived as a real weapon and one can only speculate how tragic situations could result."
The investigation continues and police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 519-824-1212 Ext. 7332 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
