NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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The investigation into this incident remains active and ongoing by Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) 5 District – Fort Erie detectives.
On Jan. 24, 2023, at 2:56 p.m. an unidentified male suspect called Garrison Road Public School in Fort Erie. The suspect threatened gun violence was going to occur at the school. The school immediately initiated safety protocols and contacted the NRPS.
The first 5 District uniform officer from the NRPS arrived at the school within three minutes. The situation that took place on Jan. 24 in Fort Erie is scary and unnerving to the students, staff, parents/guardians and our community. The NRPS devoted significant resources from around the Service including additional uniform officers from Port Colborne and Niagara Falls, the Traffic Enforcement Unit, Marine Unit, CORE Unit, K9 Unit, 5 District detectives, Mobile Crisis Response Unit officers, Niagara Parks Police and the Ontario Provincial Police.
Parts of the initial investigation led officers to have a concern about Stevensville Public School. As such, officers requested they go into safety procedures. The NRPS was able to attend and assisted with an orderly dismissal. With a quickly unfolding situation, officers also requested Peace Bridge Public School go into safety protocols due to proximity to Garrison Road School. The situation at Peace Bridge School was also cleared quickly. Once the situation at Garrison Road School was deemed safe, officers assisted staff with the dismissal of the students.
To support the Fort Erie school communities, the NRPS had 5 District – Fort Erie uniform officers stationed near the affected schools yesterday morning, with the hope that their presence may provide some reassurance and support.
The investigation remains ongoing by 5 District Fort Erie detectives. There have been no arrests and the identity of the suspect remains unknown. Garrison Road School staff and senior management from the District School Board of Niagara are assisting detectives.
Detectives are also actively investigating a bomb threat to John Brant Public School that occurred on Jan. 26, 2023, in Fort Erie. Detectives recognize there are similarities between these incidents and are investigating to determine what links there may be.
Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives by calling (905) 688-4111, option 3, extension 1022300.
Members of the public who wish to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers of Niagara online or by calling 1-800-222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards to persons who contact the program with information which leads to an arrest.
Click here for Crime Stoppers online.
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