Saanich businesses evacuated as man with airsoft gun arrested
A 19-year-old man was arrested early Monday morning and a business complex was briefly evacuated after police received a report of someone carrying a gun near Cedar Hill Middle School in Saanich, B.C.
Police say they received a report of a man walking on the field of the school with a gun around 6:10 a.m.
While officers were heading to the scene, police received an update saying that the man had pointed the gun at a passerby, and that he was walking towards a business complex at the intersection of Cedar Hill Road and McKenzie Avenue.
"Due to the concern for public safety, police closed down the immediate area to traffic and also evacuated persons inside the complex," said Saanich police in a release Monday.
Police say they found the suspect inside the parkade area of the building, and that he was carrying an airsoft gun that "looked identical to a real semi-automatic rifle."
He was arrested at the scene and is facing one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
"Imitation firearms pose a significant risk to the public, as police treat them as real until proven otherwise," said Saanich police Const. Markus Anastasiades in a statement Monday.
"Imitation, airsoft, paintball or similar weapons should never be carried or used in public spaces," he added.
Police say the 19-year-old man is known to the department, and he remained in custody Monday morning.
While officers received a report that the man had been pointing the airsoft gun at bystanders, police say they do not believe he was seeking any specific person.
"While we are still working on why this man was walking around with a weapon in public, we have no information to suggest he was targeting any person or location," said Anastasiades.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.