Police investigating online threats to ‘shoot up’ Mississauga, Brampton high schools

Peel Regional Police are investigating a series of online threats targeting high schools in Mississauga and Brampton.

Officers said the police force was made aware of online threats on social media on March 2.

The threats indicated that on March 10, someone would attend six secondary schools intending to “shoot them up.”

The schools named include Holy Name of Mary Secondary School, Louise Arbour Secondary School, St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, Notre Dame Secondary School, Chinguacousy Secondary School and Ascension of Our Lord Secondary School.

Const. Heather Cannon tells CityNews that police officers will attend these schools to ensure students and staff are safe.

“At this point, there will be some extra security at the mentioned schools. My understanding is that both school boards have sent home some form of a memo or letter to parents prior to the media release so that they’re aware of this,” Const. Cannon said.

Students react to concerning threats of violence made on Snapchat

No other schools were identified in the online threat. CityNews was sent a screenshot on Snapchat, which students confirmed was where the threats originated.

One Brampton student told CityNews that their parents were likely to keep them at home on Friday due to uneasiness surrounding the threats of violence.

“They’re nervous about it, for sure,” the student said on Wednesday.

Peel police said investigators and school administrators from the Dufferin Peel Catholic District and Peel School Boards are taking the threats seriously as officials work together to investigate leads to identify the source.

“We understand that the threats made are concerning to students, school staff, administrators, parents and the community at large,” said Insp. Jean-Paul St. Jules. “Our Youth and Cyber Support Service investigators are working on identifying those responsible.”