London police say a 61-year-old man has been arrested in connection with a weapons investigation that put south end schools in lockdown.
Students at four area schools; Wilton Grove, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Arthur Stringer and St. Francis, were kept inside after reports of a gunshot in the area around 11 a.m. on Monday.
Officers responded to the area of Barrett Street near Ashbury Avenue where the gun had reportedly been fired in a shed.
Access to the area was restricted as police investigated, including to residents returning home.
Tactical officers and negotiators were called to the scene and the man was arrested without incident around 1 p.m.
No one was injured, but charges are pending.
“When there's a discharge of a firearm anywhere, there's a significant risk to the public,” says Const. Ken Steeves.
“With that being said, we cordoned off the area, notified surrounding neighbours to stay in their residences. We advised the schools in the area as well so they could cover off their policies in relation to the safety of staff and students, and then we essentially just waited.
“We had negotiators on scene. They were not used in this incident; we effected the arrest without their services.”
Interestingly, first responders had just left Wilton Grove public school before the lockdown.
Firefighters doing the demonstration were blindfolded to simulate the challenges of navigating through a smoke-filled home.
