The alleged assault of a taxi cab driver Wednesday morning in Steveston initiated a brief lockdown of nearby McMath secondary school. According to Richmond RCMP, the incident at around 11:20 a.m. involving the cabbie and a customer took place a few blocks away from the high school.
It was initially reported as a robbery in progress and that a suspect was last seen in the 11,000 block of No. 1 Rd. Information the RCMP received at the time could not confirm whether or not the suspect was armed with a weapon.
With the possibility the suspect might have headed in the direction of McMath, the school underwent a “Code Yellow Perimeter Lockdown,” which ceases all outside school activities and secures the school’s entrances, exits, and all classrooms inside the building.
In a letter to parents and guardians following the event, McMath principal Neil Kamide wrote that the RCMP monitored the school during the lockdown and issued a “Code Green” at about 11:30 a.m. indicating an “all clear” and that activities could resume as normal.
Police describe the assault suspect as a male Caucasian, possibly in his 30s, medium build, standing approximately six-foot-tall. He had facial acne and was wearing a black hoodie and a red-brimmed hat.
If you have any information on this incident, contact the Richmond RCMP at 604-278-1212 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. (8477).
