A Hamilton teen’s attempt to dodge blame for a bear spray attack backfired spectacularly, landing him in cuffs after a fake gun scare locked down Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School. Hamilton Police say the Ancaster school went into hold-and-secure mode last Friday at 1:30 p.m. after a call claimed someone had a weapon on site.
A meticulous sweep turned up no gun—just a tangled web of lies. Investigators say the caller, a student, fabricated the threat to pin trouble on another kid he’d allegedly blasted with bear spray earlier. That victim was briefly arrested, but the truth flipped the script: the accuser became the accused.
By Wednesday, the youth faced a slew of charges—assault with a weapon, possession of a prohibited weapon, administering a noxious substance with intent to harm, and public mischief for his gun hoax. His name’s under wraps, shielded by the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Police praised the school community’s patience during the chaos and urge anyone with tips to call 905-546-3886 or drop anonymous leads with Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (up to $2,000 reward, no testimony required).
The hold-and-secure—a lighter safety net than a full lockdown—kept visitors out while the drama unfolded. For one teen, it’s a lesson in how fast a bad plan can unravel.