News & Politics - School on Lockdown, Fearfull kids write wills, goodbye letters

**Mio** · 06-07-2005, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Fugitive hides out in junior high
By ROCHELLE SQUIRES, STAFF REPORTER

While hovering underneath her desk in a darkened classroom, a Grade 8 student wrote a tearful letter while cops surrounded her Waverley Heights school in pursuit of a suspect hiding inside.

"I wrote a letter to my mom saying I love her and I'm sorry if I got into fights with my sister," said Ashley DeBrouwere, a student at Arthur A. Leach Junior High School on Chancellor Drive.

The school was put under lockdown for 45 minutes yesterday morning after a man tried escaping police capture by running inside the school.

"We were all hugging and praying," said another 13-year-old student. "People were actually writing their wills because they thought we were going to die."

The incident began around 10:30 a.m. when police began following a "suspicious" Chrysler Intrepid in the Fort Garry neighbourhood, said police spokesman patrol Sgt. Kelly Dennison.

Police tried to pull the Intrepid over, but instead the driver -- a lone man -- turned into a parking lot, jumped out of the car and ran.

"He ran away and our guys began chasing him," said Dennison, adding it's still a mystery why the man chose to duck inside the school. "There's nothing to indicate the school was targeted in any way."

Lockdown

School administrators immediately executed a lockdown strategy, which included a code announcement over the loudspeaker that alerted staff an intruder was in the building.

"They said Mr. Isaac is in the school. We thought it was like a superintendent coming and that's why they were telling us to get into our classrooms," said a student.

But once students were in their classrooms, they were told to stay clear of the windows and to hover near a wall or underneath their desks while teachers locked the doors and turned out the lights.

The suspect allegedly ran into a boys' bathroom where he met a wheelchair-bound Grade 9 student.

"He ran into the bathroom, tried to climb over the wall but was unsuccessful and ran out. But then he ran back in and was yelling 'I'm a mess, I'm screwed,' " said Sam, a 14-year-old boy.

The suspect then crawled into the ceiling tiles while Sam left the bathroom and alerted school officials.

Police immediately stormed into the bathroom and arrested the unarmed man without incident.

Charges had not been laid at press time last night.

"I'm anticipating some charges will be laid, but I'm not sure what they will be at this time. We're still investigating," said Dennison.

Pretty scary, kids writing wills and goodbye letters.

*perfect · 06-08-2005, 07:51 AM

Man, I feel terrible for that kid in the bathroom, he must have been horrified. Though, I guess he was a little relieved about hearing the guy say that he was a mess/screwed, it probably humanized him a little more and made him seem less harmful, in which case the other students were probably imagining a huge psycho freak with machine guns running around. I bet that bathroom kid is the most popular kid in school now

.

In Fair Verona · 06-08-2005, 01:50 PM

That would freak the hell out of me too. I think the scariest part is just the fact that they really didn't seem to know exactly what was going on, and that lets their imaginations take over. They don't know he's just some messed up, screwed up guy.

mh67511 · 06-08-2005, 02:54 PM

That's really crazy! I wonder if my school had a lockdown plan...luckily nothing ever happened. It's kind of insane that schools even have to have plans for this as they are supposed to be safe places. Thank God no one was hurt.

*Elle* · 06-08-2005, 04:40 PM

When I was in the 9th grade my best friend broke up with her boyfriend (and I guess he went kind of sideways after that) because he rode up to our classroom on his mini bike with his dad's shot gun and pointed it at her (who was sitting a seat infront of me). My older brother (who was also in my class [small school] and was also one of Jon's best friends [small town]) had to talk him down. It was the single most scary thing that's ever happened in that town and you can bet after that the school district put in a lock down system (although I really can't see how that would have helped us?).

So I can really feel for the poor kid who had to deal with some crazy guy running in with the police after him. Sad.

**Mio** · 06-11-2005, 10:42 AM

The guy has been charged with numerous offences. I'll find the article and post it later.

-Kelly- · 06-11-2005, 09:02 PM

poor kids

imajica · 06-12-2005, 05:12 PM

wow - that would be really scary - i bet that girl fights less with her sister now - for a little while at least

Semmer · 06-13-2005, 05:49 PM

So far in my school there has been one bomb threat and two lockdowns. They used the lockdowns because of some school shotting threats, which mainly means certain doors are locked and there put police in the hallways, but there never was a lockdown that had been put out on such short notice.

That would be scary for kids who didn't know what was going on. For all they the intruder could have been fully loaded with guns or explosives. I would have been freaked out too.

Moonlight~Pixie · 06-13-2005, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by In Fair Verona

That would freak the hell out of me too. I think the scariest part is just the fact that they really didn't seem to know exactly what was going on, and that lets their imaginations take over. They don't know he's just some messed up, screwed up guy.

Yeah, that's true. I know I'd be scared.

GhostWriter · 06-25-2005, 07:48 PM

Hmm...

What the hell is a kid gonna put in his will :
"...and give my x-box and all the games to Billy, oh wait, Billy is stuck in here with me, whoops. Well then, give them to cousin Ted, He's poor anyway..." ?
Ha! don't like my view on this, then read my sig.


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