An incident in Mackenzie Building on Nov. 26 involving three students and an airsoft gun ended peacefully after the students were arrested and released with no charges.
Josh Cohen-Collier, a fourth-year electrical engineering student who saw the incident, said he was working on a group project on the fourth floor of Mackenzie when the incident occurred. Around 12 a.m., his fellow group members left to go home, while he was left with two other students in the room.
Around this time, Campus Safety was contacted anonymously about students with “suspicious content.” According to Campus Safety director Allan Burns, Ottawa police were called to provide on-site assistance in case of an emergency situation developing.
Cohen-Collier said he observed the students pretending to shoot each other, although he did not feel they were dangerous.
“The door opened, and I saw what appeared to be a security guard at first. He was wearing a tactical vest and I noticed he was carrying an assault rifle, but it wasn’t being trained on anything,” Cohen-Collier said.
Cohen-Collier said there were an estimated 16 officers of varying caliber in the building as he was leaving.
Cohen-Collier said he is glad that ultimately no one was hurt.
“I believe they made a stupid, albeit scary mistake. I think punishment is justified, but I don’t believe expulsion is the adequate response,” he said.
Burns said the students actions were a violation of the school’s weapons policy and a decision on punishment will be made by the director of student services based on the Student’s Rights and Responsibilities policies.
