Two youths charged, 19-year-old in hospital after stabbing

Batchewana First Nation's new Chief ready to work Mark McCoy has defeated longtime Chief Dean Sayers by a margin of almost 400 votes in Friday's Band election.

Two teens have been charged in a stabbing in Batchewana First Nation that sent a 19-year-old to hospital with life-threatening injuries, police say.

Local First Nation and provincial police from Sault Ste. Marie were called to a Gran Street parking lot around 3:30 a.m. July 30, Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Friday.

Officers found a person suffering from stab wounds and paramedics transported the victim to hospital.

Two suspects, a 17-year-old from Batchewana First Nation and a 16-year-old from Thunder Bay, were arrested the next day and charged with aggravated assault and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm in the case.

The pair is being held in custody and are scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Sault Ste. Marie at a later date.

"The ongoing investigation is being conducted by the Sault Ste. Marie OPP crime unit and the Batchewana Police Service under the direction of the OPP criminal investigation branch, with assistance from the OPP north east region canine unit, emergency response team and forensic identification services, as well as Anishinabek Police Service and Sault Ste. Marie Police Service," OPP said.

"Anyone with any information regarding this investigation is asked to please contact the Sault Ste. Marie OPP or Batchewana First Nation Police Service at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or saultcrimestoppers.com, where you may be eligible to receive a cash reward of up to $2,000."

The identities of the two suspects are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.