Seven Port Moody schools were under lockdown as police went on the hunt for an assault suspect Tuesday morning.
Following a two-hour manhunt, a 31-year old male suspect is now in police custody and the lockdown has been lifted.
The precautionary lockdown has been lifted. The @PortMoodyPD are expected to issue a statement shortly. Thank you for your patience. #sd43
— School District 43 (@sd43bc) December 16, 2014At approximately 8:10 a.m., police responded to an assault with a weapon in the neighbourhood of Heritage Mountain. A weapon was recovered and a male victim had suffered minor injuries. According to a statement by Port Moody Police, the suspect had fled prior to their arrival.
A manhunt ensued and police placed nearby Aspenwood Elementary in a “code yellow” lockdown whereby classes remained in session but restricted access to and from the school. Later on, they added another six schools as a “precaution”:
- Heritage Woods Secondary
- Eagle Mountain Middle
- Anmore Elementary
- Pleasantside Elementary
- Bramblewood Elementary
- Heritage Mountain Elementary
Report of assault with a weapon on heritage Mtn. A weapon has been recovered. We are still searching for the suspect. No one has been shot.
— Port Moody Police (@PortMoodyPD) December 16, 2014More than two hours later, a suspect that matched the description from the assault had reportedly carjacked a vehicle from a woman in the nearby suburb of Coquitlam.
Police were able to locate the stolen vehicle and the suspect soon after. He is not known to police and the investigation is ongoing.