Multiple schools in the West Shore area were placed in hold and secure Friday afternoon after a group of teens were seen brandishing what appeared to be a gun.
According to West Shore RCMP, police were notified about a small group of youths hanging out at a bus stop in the 400-block of Dressler Road in Colwood.
The group were seen brandishing what appeared to be a firearm.
Out of an abundance of caution, several schools, including Dunsmuir Middle School and Royal Bay Secondary School, were placed in a hold and secure for a small amount of time.
According to the BC government, a hold and secure (lockout) is used when it is necessary to secure a school from an emergency situation occurring outside the school.
This means exterior doors are locked and monitored to allow students and staff to enter but otherwise the doors remain locked. Once inside, no one leaves the building.
Police searched the area and located two people, a teen girl and boy. Officers then found the firearm in question and confirmed it to be a replica weapon.
Once it was determined there was no threat to the public, all schools were in the area were notified and the hold and secure was lifted.
West Shore RCMP said no further details will be released while the incident is being investigated.
