BB Gun Found on Way to School

A young girl, in Bonnyville, discovered what she believed to be a firearm on  her way to school on Wednesday morning. The girl immediately reported her findings to their bus driver, who acted fast in calling the police. Bonnyville RCMP Sergeant Sarah Parke confirmed the gun was not an actual firearm.

“It was a BB gun,” Sgt. Parke confirmed. The gun was located near 47th Ave & 42 Street in Bonnyville.

Cold Lake Bus Lines, the company that employs the bus driver who had called the police, said that the gun was reported immediately and the driver had waited until the police arrive to ensure no kids or passersby touched it.

Parent of the child who discovered the gun, Sondra Latta said she took pictures of the gun and waited for the police to arrive. Latta says her daughter was shaken, “I’m proud that she did the right thing and reported it.” Despite being a BB gun, it could still cause injuries and be dangerous, added Latta.

Sgt. Parke said the investigation is ongoing as to how the gun ended up outside.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Bonnyville RCMP Detachment.

Northern Lights Public School Message to Parents :

This morning some students discovered what they believed to be a firearm while they were waiting for the bus in Bonnyville. One of the older students kept the younger students away from the suspected weapon and alerted the bus driver immediately when the bus arrived. The driver ensured all the students who were at the stop were safe and notified the RCMP. Officers responded promptly and secured what turned out to be a BB gun.

We are sharing this information with you so that you are aware of what happened and have accurate information you can use should you need to or want to discuss it with your child. Due to other recent events in our communities, we recognize that this incident could cause some distress and anxiety for our students. Counselling services are available at all of our schools for students who may need to access them. Please contact your school to make arrangements for your child to access services if you feel they are needed.

While we cannot share the name of the students involved with you, Northern Lights would like to commend the actions of the student who took action at the bus stop this morning. This student recognized a potentially dangerous situation, took action to protect other students, and alerted an adult to the situation as quickly as possible. We could not have asked for a better response and are grateful to this student for their reaction to a very scary situation.