Okanagan Landing Elementary on lockdown after body found in schoolyard
VERNON – Okanagan Landing Elementary School was in lockdown Monday morning after a body was found in the schoolyard.
RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says a man’s body was found by some children shortly before school started Monday, May 25. The incident has been deemed a suicide and the B.C. Coroners Service is involved.
Molendyk says the school was put under lockdown to keep students away from the scene and from seeing the body.
“We didn’t want students looking around,” Molendyk says, adding there is no danger to students.
Vice principal Colline Johnson wouldn't speak about the incident, except to say the school is running as usual and providing support to students who need it.
Police believe the body is that of a 38-year-old man with suicidal intentions who went missing Sunday evening, but that has yet to be confirmed. Indications are the man died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Police were still on scene as of 10 a.m. awaiting the coroner, but Molendyk expected they would be finishing up shortly.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
—This story was updated at 10:30 a.m. May 25 to include additional details from the RCMP and again at 11:55 a.m. to include a statement from Colline Johnson.
47 responses
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I pray he has found Peace!!My Prayers to his family!!Sometimes things happen and they call out for help!!May peace be with you!!
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He was an exceptional person , loved and cherished by his family and friends. We are deeply saddened by his loss and sorry to have put any child in an horrific situation such as this. He came from a happy loving family, who are grieving the loss of a son , brother, cousin, father and husband. I can not begin to imagine the thought process of someone who is suicidal; however, I did notice in the news video of the scene that he sat in a corner of the school property under a tree. So I do Believehe gave some thought to his surroundings. It’s difficult to see all of these comments, having known and loved the person. It is a tragic loss, deeply felt by my sons and family.
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If he was known to be suicidal prior to this situation, then how did he find a loaded gun? Who’s gun did he use?
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It is one thing to take your own life. It is another thing to cause traumatic scenes for young children. I feel for the family but I also feel for the children.
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I wonder what happened to him at that school.It’s entirely possible that it was place of debilitating trauma for the man earlier in his life.
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People who are that depressed as to contemplate , attempt or succeed in suicide are not thinking in any kind of rational way about the consequences of their act.You can call it selfish, but it is desperation for the pain to end.It is called mental illness.It is sad. It is not for us to judge.
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So sad Prayers go out to family and friends and the children and staff of this schooll.
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Sam Boone Zaharia It’s possible he was completely out of his head and didn’t realize what he was doing. Sad.
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Such a tragedy for all concerned, a young man feeling so desperate that he feels the only way he has is to end his precious life. My heart goes out to his family, and to the unfortunate children that found him. They will heal in time. But the young man’s family will have a life time of unanswered questions.
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The only children’s lives who may be destroyed are his if he had any.Children are very resilent and as disturbing as it may be to find a dead dbody I do not believe that any children at the school are distroyed.
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He didn’t “choose’ to traumatize any children.Unless you understand mental illnesses like this, or the severe depression of suicidal people then you should be careful what you say.
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sadly he took his life…but in a school yard….come on…I feel for the kids who found him.
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Maybe he didn’t choose.You clearly don’t know what mental illnesses can do to your perception of the world.Educate yourself and then rejoin the discussion.
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How do you know the children will be fine?How do you know they will get over this?How do you know their lives are not ruined?Are you a psychiatrist?There is a million other places he could have chose to end his life.He didn’t have to choose to traumatize innocent children.
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Do we even know that he knew where he was?He could have been on some heavy drugs or even just driven delusional by mental illness.You know nothing about his situation, and so you have no right to judge him.It’s this kind of ignorance that drives society to its worst.
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Would you rather kids find the body in the school yard or there front yard at home please be respectful
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I agree with Lucille.That man can rot in hell for killing himself where innocent children could find him.Those children may have horrible memories of this that may cause life long issues.I have empathy for the children and their families, but I sure as hell don’t for that psycho whowould CHOOSE to traumatize children.
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I agree with Bevybee Roper.Who are we to judge one another any way.There is only one judge and I believe we will all have our time with him when we leave this world.
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Carol Morganyes I do have a heart, and it is for those children that found the body and had to witness something so horrific, they are going to be stuck with the memory of that gruesome act for the rest of their lives, traumatized by the memory of this….. that’s where my heart is….
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how did anyone not hear the gun go off? there’s houses all around the school, & no one heard or called it in?
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I am very sad for the family of this man…he obviously was not mentally sound and was suffering from struggles that we may never understand….the children will be fine…they will get over this….their lives are not ruined….their questions I am sure are going to be answered correctly and with care….
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Use your head Lucille! If you were is suicidal, and mentally disturbed, do you honestly believe that you would be thinking about consequences after you are dead?
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Nice to see a lot of you have compassion , no one ever knows what there problems really are , especially when there is no red flags.Trust me I know as my son at 36 took his life. My thoughts and prayers go to his family……
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Those kids will be left with that horrible, bloodied image for the rest of their lives….
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you are an evil person to say such a thing. obviously he didn’t choose the best place but that gives you no right to call him a loser. your a cold and heartless person what if his family see what you have said it will just make it worse for them and I truly hope it doesn’t get seen.
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This is my grand daughter’s school.I am furious this loser did this knowing little kids would likely find him. How do you explain this to grade 1 little girl? You coward!I actually hope you burn in hell for this.
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That is awful that the children found the body…why aren’t the teachers checking the school grounds every morning before school to make sure they are safe? Time to get security guards?
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That is just sick and twisted, who kills themselves and leaves their body and their gun to be found by elementary school children!
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It is sad that he chose that place to end his life, but maybe school or that time in his life was happiest for him… We don’t know what he was thinking or feeling, but I pray to the Creator that he is at peace now and safe in the arms of his loved ones who went before him… <3 :'(
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It is very sad.The police are still up there and the area is marked by yellow tape.I don’t believe they have removed the body yet.I am just glad my granddaughter didn’t see it.
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