'Serious assault' forces hold and secure at St. Patrick Elementary

A man is in hospital in critical condition after a "serious assault" downtown that prompted a hold and secure alarm at a central Hamilton school Tuesday.

Police are searching for two suspects and it's possible that one man has a gun, Const. Steve Welton says, though that report hasn't been confirmed yet by investigators.

Welton said it's "hard to say" if there's a threat to public safety, but there is "no immediate, ongoing, active" danger.

The victim was found unconscious in the area of Victoria Avenue South and Stinson Street around 11:05 a.m.

Welton couldn't exactly say how he was injured, but did say the man didn't have any stab wounds.

St. Patrick Catholic Elementary School was temporarily placed in a "hold and secure" situation from 11:35 a.m. to 12:40 a.m. at the behest of police to ensure the safety of students in the area.

There is an ongoing police presence in the area as they interview witnesses. Some roads that were closed nearby have been reopened.

Police have one person under arrest on an unrelated charge. However, he was in the area at the time, so officers are interviewing him to see if the incidents are related, Welton said.

Police are searching for two suspects who were last seen going north on Victoria.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at 905-546-3818 or submit a tip anonymously at Crimestoppershamilton.com.