The supposedly armed suspicious individual who had been seen on Friday afternoon near Lionel-Groulx College was walking around with a toy weapon, said the Thérèse-de-Blainville police department the day after confinement.
• Read also: Cégep Lionel-Groulx: evacuation completed and an individual still wanted
The police also confirmed that the person did not enter the school building. The suspect is also met by investigators on Saturday evening after being identified.
“The individual, a young minor, resident of Sainte-Thérèse would have actually wandered in the streets on the outskirts of the college, with an object that could be easily confused with a long weapon, being in fact a weapon. toy”, explained the authorities in a press release on Saturday evening.
Several citizens had, however, contacted 911 as a precaution, triggering a vast police operation lasting several hours and leading to the confinement of the students and staff of Lionel-Groulx College.
The purchase, transport and handling of a toy that may be similar to a weapon must be done in a safe manner in public places, recalled the police department.