Police shut down a number of roads in the town of Pincher Creek on Wednesday morning after receiving reports of shots fired at a home in the area and have taken one person into custody.
The RCMP Emergency Response Team and Calgary police were called to a home across the street from the Matthew Halton High School at about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday.
“Two members responded to the area to investigate the shots fired complaint. When the members arrived on scene they started to approach the house. When they approached the house, a subject exited the front door of the home and fired off one round towards the members. The members were able to move back from the home and set up containment of that house and that’s when the rest of the members were called to assist them,” said RCMP PC Detachment Commander Mark Harrison.
Local residents say they heard shots fired at the home and say police then negotiated with the person inside.
“I heard that maybe there was somebody with like, a gun, but as for that, I don’t know much more. But if that is true, then that’s pretty crazy though for a small town like this,” said resident Cole Schmidt.
“Just came to watch what was all going on. Know the people and it’s a terrible situation,” said Gord McMullen .
Police secured the high school and it was closed and classes cancelled before students arrived.
Officials with the Livingstone Range School Division released a statement on the situation saying…
“Just before 6:00 a.m. today, a school bus transportation coordinator attempted to open the gates to the bus compound, but was directed by an onsite RCMP officer to vacate the area. This advisory was then communicated to LRSD senior administration and a precautionary school closure procedure was set in motion.
Deputy Superintendent Darryl Seguin made the decision to close down all Pincher Creek schools administered by Livingstone Range in response to an RCMP directive. School administration, staff, custodians, technical personnel, bus drivers and families/students were informed of the decision through emergency notification protocol, including Power School Alert Solutions (an automated phone-out system), the Division website and social media. Care was taken to ensure that no personnel were on school premises.”
“We had subject firing off a rifle at members, our main priority was their safety, then the safety of the community so we had to take action to make sure that the Matthew Halton High School was shut down for the morning until this was resolved. Obviously a very dangerous situation for any students or staff arriving on scene and not knowing what was happening so,” said Harrison.
Harrison says the two officers who responded to the original complaint were not injured.
“The subject involved has now been taken into custody without injury and our investigation is continuing at this time,” said Harrison.
Police say two people who lived in the basement of the home were able to leave safely.
Officers cleared the scene just before noon and say the offender is known to them. There is no word on the man's identity.
