Three local high schools hit by threats of gun violence

WATERLOO REGION — Police are investigating a spate of violent threats against three local high schools — two of them in one day.

In each case, threatening graffiti scribbled on a washroom wall warned of an upcoming school shooting.

On Tuesday, Waterloo Regional Police investigated a threat of violence at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute in Kitchener and later in the afternoon at Glenview Park Secondary School in Cambridge.

Another threat occurred at Huron Heights Secondary School last week.

“We are taking it at face value, as threats, not as a joke,” said school board superintendent Ron DeBoer.

DeBoer said school principals are speaking to students via the PA system reminding them that such threats have serious consequences and that any students with information should come forward to staff or police.

Acting Staff Sgt. Scott Sharpe said Cameron was put on “hold and secure” at about 9:40 a.m. while police investigated a threat of violence at the school after graffiti was written on the wall of a girls’ washroom.

Sharpe said there was no immediate threat but police were at the school for several hours.

The hold and secure was lifted about an hour later, Cameron Heights principal Ray Teed said in a message to the school community.

Waterloo Regional Police spokesperson Cherri Greeno said a student at Cameron saw the threatening graffiti and told staff in the school office.

Police were then called. The graffiti said: “School shooting today (Tuesday) at 9:50 a.m. Cancel school today. Come tomorrow. Watch out bitches.”

In his message, Teed said,

“... it is unacceptable and morally abhorrent to make threats towards members of the school community.”

Teed said these types of threats are no joke and those responsible will be held accountable.

At Glenview Park, the graffiti warned of a school shooting on March 29.

Greeno said detectives are trying to determine the validity of the threat and who wrote it.

Police remind students that such threats are serious and can result in charges.

“If this is meant to be a joke, there are serious consequences,” Greeno said.

School at Cameron Heights continued as normal but the outer doors were locked and no one could come in or out of the school.

A similar threat was made at Huron Heights Secondary School last week.

In a washroom stall, a member of school staff found the message: “School Shooting March 28! Not a joke. Watch Out.”

Greeno said police are still investigating the incident at Huron Heights. Police and the school are working on “safety” plans for Wednesday.

DeBoer said Huron Heights will be open on Wednesday and it’s business as usual with classes and extracurricular activities carrying on.

Police resource officers will be at the school and staff will be on hand if students are scared and need to talk, said DeBoer, who was at the school on Tuesday.

Although parents were encouraged to have their teens attend school on Wednesday, “some may have fears and not feel safe to go to school,” he said.