Edmonton (Rajeev Sharma): The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta say there has been a noticeable increase in reports of people carrying weapons and subsequent school lockdowns in the days following the deadly mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, which left nine people dead last Tuesday.
Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said the spike in calls over a short period is unusual, though he stopped short of definitively linking it to the tragedy in British Columbia.
“Having those calls in that short amount of time is more than what is standard,” Savinkoff said in a phone interview Sunday. “We certainly can’t disprove that the recent event in Tumbler Ridge has brought those sensitivities.”
Mounties responded to four separate calls in the past week involving reports of a person with a weapon in High River, Fort McMurray, Edson, and Sherwood Park, a hamlet east of Edmonton. Several nearby schools were placed under lockdown or hold-and-secure orders while police investigated.
Under a lockdown, students and staff remain secured in classrooms until the situation is resolved. A hold-and-secure status allows classes to continue but restricts access to and from the building.
In Edson, a 39-year-old man from British Columbia was charged with multiple offences after allegedly throwing beef jerky at students, shouting Bible verses and firing what sounded like a gun in front of a principal before fleeing. The weapon was later determined to be a cap gun.
In Fort McMurray, police responded to a report of a student with a weapon one day after the Tumbler Ridge shooting. Although the student was not carrying a firearm at the time, investigators believe one may have been brought to school previously. A teenager now faces several charges, including uttering threats. The investigation remains ongoing.
Another report in Sherwood Park, involving a person believed to be carrying a firearm near two schools, was later deemed unfounded. Savinkoff said police believe the caller was mistaken rather than intentionally misleading authorities.
In a separate incident two days after the B.C. shooting, a caller told police a shooter was heading to a school. Investigators suspect voice-disguising software may have been used.
Adam Lankford, a professor of criminology and criminal justice at the University of Alabama, said such spikes in reporting are not uncommon after mass shootings.
“Fear may be causing people to overreact or err on the side of caution,” Lankford said, noting that even if the statistical likelihood of another attack is low, community anxiety can remain high.
Savinkoff encouraged residents to continue reporting suspicious activity without hesitation.
“Early detection of these incidents is extremely important. It’s truly the type of file where seconds count,” he said.
Alberta RCMP members also assisted in responding to the Tumbler Ridge shooting, and Savinkoff acknowledged the emotional toll the incident has taken on officers.
“Even though it’s a different province, it was close to Alberta, so it has been a tough last week for all police,” he said.
