May 4, 2022 9:00 AM
A 16-year-old male from the United Kingdom has been identified as being responsible for a series of 'swatting' incidents at Saskatoon schools in early April.
On April 8, 2022, Saskatoon Police Patrol and School Resource Officers responded to three telephone reports alleging a person was entering a Saskatoon school with a firearm. The reports resulted in an armed emergent response from police until it was determined the threats were not credible.
Through an investigation that involved United States Homeland Security, a 16-year-old youth from the United Kingdom was identified. He was also found to be responsible for additional swatting incidents in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
SPS General Investigation Section investigators are continuing to investigate in conjunction with partner law enforcement agencies.
April 8, 2022 3:21 PM
Police continue to investigate after threats were made this afternoon involving three elementary schools.
At approximately 12:30 p.m., police received a 911 call reporting a person with a firearm approaching an elementary school in the 200 block of Avenue S South. Patrol, School Resource Officers and on-duty Tactical Support Unit officers responded to the area. At 12:36 p.m. and 1:13 p.m., police received two additional 911 calls with similar reports of threats involving elementary schools in the 200 block of 111th Street and the 3500 block of John A. Macdonald Road, respectively. Each school was placed on lockdown while police attended and quickly cleared each room. No threat was located and the lockdowns have since been lifted.
The SPS General Investigations Section will continue to investigate with support from the School Resource Unit.
Anyone with information on these incidents is asked to contact the SPS at 306-975-8300 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8433.
(Occurrence Numbers: 22-38440, 22-38443, 22-38456)
The Saskatoon Police Service is responding to an unknown problem in the 200 block of Avenue S South, 200 block of 111th Street West, and the 3500 block of John A. Macdonald Road.
There is an existing police presence in each of the identified areas; members of the public are asked to avoid the areas.
Additional information will be released as it becomes known.
(Occurrence Numbers: 22-38440, 22-38443, 22-38456)