An elementary school in Port Colborne was placed under hold and secure Friday afternoon after a student spotted a neighbour holding a pellet gun in his own yard.

Niagara police say the student was inside a classroom at St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School located at 266 Rosemount Ave. when they looked through a window and saw the man holding the mock firearm.

The man was standing on his own property and the pellet gun was not pointed at the school.

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The school was placed under a hold and secure order as a safety precaution while emergency services were contacted.

At 1:31pm students inside a classroom at St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School located at 266 Rosemount Avenue in Port Colborne observed a neighbouring resident holding a firearm on their own property. The firearm was not pointed at any student or at the school.

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— NRPS (@NiagRegPolice) March 31, 2023

Officers arrived at the scene and spoke to the man, revealing that the weapon he was holding was a pellet gun and not a real firearm.

The hold and secure at the school was lifted shortly after 2 p.m. and police say there is no threat to the building.