A man armed with an air gun, who says he was trying to shoo away pigeons, prompted two schools to declare a hold and secure in Etobicoke Thursday.

Police surrounded a low-rise apartment building on Newholm Road, east of Park Lawn Road, after an onlooker called police at around 9 a.m. to report that an armed man was standing on the building’s roof.

Two nearby schools, Etienne Brule Junior School and St. Mark Elementary School, were placed under hold and secure orders just after children arrived.

Parents said they were not allowed to get their children.

“It was frightening. Very, very scary,” said one parent.

Speaking to CTV Toronto’s Austin Delaney, Emidio, who is the building’s superintendent, said his weapon was an air gun.

“The saw me coming into the building and, right away, they jumped on me,” recalled Emidio.

Emidio, who has been the building’s super for 23 years, said he was shooting pellets into the metal flashing on the roof in order to make a loud noise, which he hoped would scare the pigeons away.

Emidio said he has never been in trouble with the law before, not even with a speeding ticket.

“I realize I did something stupid. At the time I didn’t think so,” he said.

The incident comes one day after York Regional Police held a press conference warning the public that air rifles can easily be mistaken for a real gun.

As for the pigeons, Emidio said they can stay on the roof.

With files from CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney