Youth charged with making threats against North End school

A youth has been charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm in relation to an elementary school in the North End.

Winnipeg police said Friday investigators looked into the threats that were made Feb. 3 and involved Niji Mahkwa School at 450 Flora Ave.

Investigators identified a youth suspect, whose gender and age haven’t been made public, and arrested them without incident on Tuesday.

“No physical threats were discovered at the school and there is no threat to public safety,” police said, adding they became aware of the threats Tuesday.

The incident came to light during the same week an 18-year-old former student of a high school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., killed five students and a teacher, as well as her mother and stepbrother, before shooting herself.

Another 27 people were injured in the attack by Jesse Van Rootselaar, including two who remain in hospital.

On Friday, Heather, a mother of four students at Niji Mahkwa, called the threat against the school “concerning.”

“It’s a tragedy what happened (in Tumbler Ridge), and to think someone made a threat to (my kids’ school), you just wonder what is going on in their heads. My oldest is 12 and my youngest is five. It’s scary.”

Winnipeg Police Service Const. Claude Chancy said the police news release issued Friday tries to assure parents that officers investigate all reported threats toward schools and urges anyone who has information regarding such threats to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

“We’ve had several different types of calls like this over the past couple of weeks,” Chancy said. “It’s important for the general public to know that every one of those calls, no matter what the insinuation is from the person making the threat, and whether it’s believable, people need to report (them).”

“The fact that this one resulted in a charge shows how serious it can be, especially after what happened in Tumbler Ridge.”

Chancy said the decision to lay charges is made on a case-by-case basis.

“No physical threats were discovered at the school and there is no threat to public safety.”

He said he couldn’t speak about details of this case, but that the threat was “serious enough” to warrant the charge.

“Every incident is different and there are different facts and different evidence that comes to light when investigators go through all the evidence,” he said. “It goes a little bit toward intent as well. So sometimes you have some threats that are made where it may be very, I would say jovial, but you could tell by some of the wordings that there’s not a lot of thought process made in this threat.”

Adam, who was picking up his daughter from Niji Mahkwa on Friday afternoon, said he’s used to trouble in the North End.

“It’s concerning as a parent, but it’s the North End. When you’ve grown up in it your whole life, you sort of become numb to it.”

Another mother, who declined to give her name, said when she heard about the arrest, she thought it’s “nothing new,” having lived in the area her whole life.

Winnipeg School Division superintendent Matt Henderson said Friday the school was briefly placed in a hold-and-secure while staff were in the building Feb. 3. Students had not yet arrived for class before the hold-and-secure was lifted.

A letter sent to parents said the hold-and-secure lasted from 8 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

On Friday, the school sent an update to parents that had the police news release about the arrest attached to it.

“The Winnipeg Police Service and WSD take threats to schools very seriously to ensure the safety of our students and staff,” the letter said, also urging anyone who comes across threats directed toward schools to report that information to police and the school division.

On Friday, Garden City Collegiate sent a letter to parents to inform them about graffiti that was found in a school bathroom referencing a shooting threat toward the school for Tuesday.

“It’s important for the general public to know that every one of those calls, no matter what the insinuation is from the person making the threat, and whether it’s believable, people need to report (them).”

“We take all threats seriously and immediately contacted Winnipeg police,” the letter said.

“An investigation is currently active and remains open as police work to substantiate the credibility of the threat. The safety of our staff and students is our highest priority.”
The school said authorities will update parents by email over the weekend after taking guidance from police.

The letter, signed by principal Howard Kowalchuk, asked that if any students or families have further information that can assist police, to contact them.

On Feb. 4, Bernie Wolfe School in Transcona was evacuated because of threats made in a voicemail to the school. Police later said no physical threat was confirmed.

On Monday, classes were cancelled at St. John’s High School in the North End after a shooting threat was posted on social media.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca