Student assaulted and stabbed in Manitoba school parking lot: police

A school liaison officer is being praised for their quick thinking after a student was stabbed in a Portage la Prairie parking lot. Harrison Shin reports.

A 15-year-old student was stabbed during a confrontation in the parking lot of a school in Portage la Prairie, Man., leading to the arrest of two other teenagers.

The Portage la Prairie School Division (PLPSD) confirmed the stabbing in a statement released Friday, saying it happened at Portage Collegiate Institute (PCI) just after school dismissal on Thursday.

“A confrontation in the PCI student parking lot involving a few students. This confrontation escalated, resulting in a student being stabbed,” the division said in the statement posted on its website.

Manitoba RCMP also confirmed the incident, saying the victim – a 15-year-old boy – was involved in a confrontation with two other boys.

“During the confrontation, the victim was assaulted and stabbed,” Mounties said. “The two suspects, one of them known to the victim, fled on foot.”

The division said the student was able to get help from a staff member who provided first aid and called emergency services. The student was then taken to hospital.

“He’s expected to do a full recovery, and he’s in stable condition,” Manitoba RCMP Cpl. Melanie Rousell told CTV News.

RCMP said officers, with the help of police dogs, searched the area and ultimately found two suspects at a home in Portage la Prairie. They were arrested without incident.

The division noted it placed schools in town into a brief hold-and-secure as a precaution. Once suspects were in custody, the hold-and-secure was lifted, the division wrote.

Police said two 14-year-old boys have been charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, resisting or obstructing a peace officer, and disguise with intent to commit an offence.

One of the boys was also charged with failing to comply with a release order.

The charges have not been tested in court. The suspects cannot be identified as they are minors.

Police said the two teenagers were both held until a court appearance Friday morning.

Pamela Garnham, the school division superintendent, credits PCI’s liaison office for resolving the incident quickly.

“The Liaison Officer was on site within minutes; it was instrumental in providing the division with direct and specific updates throughout the incident,” Garnham told CTV News.

The division noted its crisis response team and school counsellors are on site Friday.

“We want to assure all of our families and staff – the safety of our schools remains a top priority and we’ll work with our school community to provide the resources and supports that’s needed at this time,” Garnham said.

- With files from CTV’s Harrison Shin