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Alberta RCMP have charged a 16-year-old boy in relation to a stabbing Monday at a school south of Edmonton.
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In a Tuesday news release, Mounties said police charged the youth with attempted murder as well as aggravated assault. The accused has been released from custody with conditions.
On Monday morning, RCMP received a call to assist with emergency medical services in response to a stabbing at Pigeon Lake Regional School in the hamlet of Falun, about 81 km southwest of Edmonton.
Officers arrived at the school to find an injured 16-year-old boy who was transported to an Edmonton-area hospital by STARS air ambulance. RCMP took another 16-year-old boy into custody at the scene.
Both boys are students of the school, RCMP said.
The youth charged in connection with this incident has a court appearance scheduled for June 1 at Wetaskiwin youth court.
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‘It’ll be a few tough days ahead’
The school division’s superintendent said resources are in place as students and staff are set to return to Pigeon Lake Region School on Wednesday morning.
“We’re very concerned about the student and ensuring his well-being, and of course our staff and students as they come back after this very traumatic experience that they’ve had,” said Peter Barron, Wetaskiwin Regional Public Schools superintendent, during to Tuesday media availability. “It’ll be a few tough days ahead as we get back to normal, if you will.”
Barron said the incident happened in the school library with many staff and students present. RCMP officers interviewed all witnesses following the stabbing.
“It was a larger group of students, so there’s a number of students who would be witness to this, yes, which of course raises a concern for us,” said Barron.
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He said a “good part” of the day on Tuesday was spent preparing to ensure there are additional counselors at the school. I have added the school resource officer and RCMP will also be present.
“We’re redeploying the counselors we have from other schools, so they are being moved from other locations to work at PLRS tomorrow,” said Barron.
He said there will be individual appointments for students who need to talk with somebody and counselors will also be watching students enter the school on Wednesday and looking for signs that somebody may need support.
“We consider ourselves on high alert in the sense that all of our staff are watching for behaviors in all of our students, and staff, that may be different from their baseline behaviour,” said Barron.
Barron said the suspect will not be allowed to return to school as part of his release conditions.
— With files from Anna Junker
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