A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with a threat against a school in Hamilton that led to its closure on Friday.
Hamilton police launched an investigation Wednesday into several threats against schools in the city after written reports were found on bathroom stalls. It is not known what these messages say.
The Hamilton-Wentworth School Board issued letters of inquiry to three separate schools, including Westdale High School, located near Main Street and Longwood Road South, where students were told there would be a police presence at the school on Friday.
However, on Thursday night, the board issued another letter to Westdale students and families, saying the school would be closed on Friday as a precautionary measure due to new information “about a potential threat to school safety”.
Police said on Friday morning they had made an arrest in connection with a threat at the school.
A 19-year-old man who has not been identified by police has been charged on two counts of total threat of death or personal injury.
He is released on bail.
Police said the threats were written in nine different schools in Hamilton and that they expect to make more arrests in the coming days.
“Hamilton Police recognize the importance of school safety and how a threat of this nature can be difficult for students, staff and their families. The police take incidents such as these very seriously and will continue to work closely with school boards to help identify those responsible and bring relevant criminal charges when a suspect (s) is identified, “they said in a press release.
The board said Westdale students and families will receive another notification on Sunday about updates on the reopening of Westdale.
Social work services will be available to students when the school reopens.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the police at (905) 546-4925 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Threat at Richmond Hill School
Meanwhile, a high school in Richmond Hill was also closed on Friday for a police investigation.
Students at Alexander Mackenzie High School, located near Major Mackenzie Drive East and Yonge Street, are studying remotely today due to an “ongoing police investigation into the threat,” a spokesman for the York County School Board told CP24.
This school will reopen for students for personal training on Monday, June 6.
As a precautionary measure, Alexander Mackenzie HS will switch to distance learning on June 3, 2022. Bus and taxi services for the routes serving the school will be canceled.
Families, please see your email for details.
– DSB for the York Region (@YRDSB) 2 June 2022
The threats in Hamilton and Richmond Hill came after two teenagers were shot with pellets on Tuesday in Toronto high schools within hours of each other.
One incident occurred at Bishop Marrocco / Thomas Merton Catholic High School and the other at the Weston Collegiate Institute.
The victims are without life-threatening injuries. Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the incidents.
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