A 16-year-old pleaded not guilty in Montreal youth court to attempted murder, possession of a weapon and conspiracy to commit assault in relation to the incident outside St. Thomas high school in Montreal’s West Island.
A teen died Thursday morning in hospital, two days after he was stabbed in an incident next to a high school in Montreal’s West Island, Montreal police confirm.
The victim was injured in an altercation that took place Tuesday afternoon just outside St. Thomas High School in Pointe-Claire. He was a student at John Rennie High School, principal Jennifer Kurta confirmed in a letter sent to parents.
“We have our student services team deployed to classes today to support teachers in delivering this message to students,” Kurta said in a statement.
“We will be providing extra guidance to any student in need throughout today and encourage you to leave your child in school for the remainder of the day so that we can help them grieve.”
Even though Friday is a pedagogical day, John Rennie will be open between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. for students in need of professional support. Students who prefer to seek support virtually may access help in a Zoom room.
The services of grief counsellors and psychologists with the Lester B. Pearson School Board’s student services department will be made available to all members of the school board’s community in the coming days.
“The Lester B. Pearson School Board would like to extend its heartfelt condolences to his family and friends,” said Judy Kelley, the board’s chair.
The victim, she said, “was only 16 years old with a bright future ahead of him. The entire school board is shaken by this unimaginable loss.”
WATCH | ‘It was not a good day,’ John Rennie student describes the mood at school:
John Rennie student shares how his classmates feel after student’s violent death
Logan Victoria, a student at John Rennie High School in Pointe-Claire, says there is sadness among his peers today. 0:50
Logan Victoria, who goes to John Rennie, said many students didn’t attend school Thursday because they were so shaken by the news.
“It’s very sad what happened,” he said. “Everyone’s mood has been down.”
Victoria said the victim wasn’t somebody people disliked.
“He was someone a lot of people enjoyed talking to,” he said. “I didn’t know him very well, but it’s just sad to see everyone and know that he is gone.”
Montreal police arrested two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old Tuesday in connection with the stabbing.
On Wednesday, a 16-year-old pleaded not guilty in youth court to attempted murder, possession of a weapon and conspiracy to commit assault in relation to the dispute. He is facing a total of seven charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and aggravated assault. His bail hearing was postponed to Feb. 16.