A routine field trip put 22 kindergarten students from New Westminster in the vicinity of a shooting drama in Vancouver.
Lord Tweedsmuir Elementary students were in lockdown at Science World following a morning shooting in Yaletown. The lockdown came to an end Tuesday afternoon when the young students were loaded onto a bus at around 1:30 p.m., superintendent John Gaiptman told The Record.
"The children, staff and parent volunteers arrived safely back to the school and counselling/debriefing supports have been made available,” said an update to parents, which was sent from Tweedsmuir's principal, Patty Farris, on Tuesday.
Her letter said, "events like these may affect siblings of the affected children and other children may also be concerned if they hear about the incident."
"It's a traumatic experience, obviously, so we want to make sure that when they come back there is help that is given, especially for the parents and teachers who have to remain strong during all of this," Gaiptman said.
According to a Vancouver Sun report, the 52-year-old owner of a Yaletown bike store was shot outside Starbucks at Davie Street and Marinaside Crescent. The shooting set off a gunfight with police and a bike pursuit around the seawall to Science World, where more shots were exchanged, and the 61-year-old suspect was shot by police, the Sun reported.
The suspect was arrested and taken to hospital, where he remains in serious condition.
