Several teenagers are now facing heightened charges after a boy was stabbed in front of a high school in East Edmonton on April 8 and later died in hospital.
Edmonton police said three of them – a 17-year-old girl and two boys, aged 15 and 16 – were charged Thursday. The girl also faces charges of obstruction after the incident in front of McNally High School.
Four other boys – two 14-year-olds, 15-year-olds and 16-year-olds – were formally charged with second-degree murder on Friday.
As all defendants are under the age of 18, their identities are protected by the Juvenile Criminal Justice Act.
EPS Supt Criminal Investigation Division. Shane Perka said on Friday that there was a ban on publishing the victim’s name because all those involved were minors.
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“The Juvenile Criminal Justice Act prohibits the publication of the name of a young victim when another person has committed a crime,” he said.
Global News has learned that the ban on publication has been lifted by the judge.
The victim and the suspects were acquainted with each other and the attack was believed to be an escalation of violence between two rival groups, police said on Friday.
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Two weeks ago, 16-year-old Karanvir Sahota was stabbed in the chest while waiting for the bus in front of the school at 8440-105 Ave. NW
Police responded at 2:44 p.m. on April 8 to reports of an attack on a school in the Forest Heights neighborhood and arrived to find Sahot with life-threatening injuries.
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He received first aid and was taken to hospital, but died of his injuries a week later.
Read more: Family seeks justice and answers in death of 16-year-old after McNally attack
Six young men were initially charged with attempted murder in connection with the attack and were arrested for several days in the first week after the attack. A murder warrant has also been issued for the seventh teenager, police said.
This information was not disseminated until Deputy Chief Kevin Brezinski was asked about it on Thursday at a meeting of the Edmonton Police Commission, at which time he said the allegations would be “improved in the very near future”.
Read more: 7 young men accused of attempted murder after stabbing at a school in Edmonton
Police officially announced on Friday that they had been promoted to second-degree murder. An autopsy last Wednesday revealed that the cause of Sahot’s death was a stab wound to the chest, and the manner of death was considered murder.
Speaking to the media about the investigation into the murder on Friday afternoon, Perka said the integrity of the investigation was crucial.
“We know that a lot of misinformation has been circulating since April 8, and we understand society’s need for answers,” he said.
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“Please know that our detectives have done and continue to do their best to ensure the integrity of this investigation. This remains our priority at all times, “he said, explaining that the young people, who were initially accused of attempted murder, were kept secret.
“The charges of attempted murder were very fluid in the first week, as we had to identify all seven suspects involved and we had to coordinate with families and lawyers to arrest them for days.
He said an update of the investigation had not been provided earlier to ensure that all seven could be tracked and detained.
Police and the crown then had to wait for the autopsy to end on Wednesday before a decision could be made on heightened charges, Perka said.
“Yesterday was the first day we coordinated the re-arrest efforts on the new charges and did so to five of the seven young people,” Perka said.
The sixth was arrested on Friday morning, and the last teenager surrendered on Friday afternoon, he added.
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