Peel police arrest and charge teen in Brampton shooting that critically injured 18-year-old student
Peel police say they have arrested a 17-year-old from Brampton in connection with a shooting outside a Brampton high school on Friday that critically injured an 18-year-old student.
In an update provided Saturday afternoon on Twitter, police say the teen arrested has been formally charged with attempted murder and failing to comply with a release order.
The male victim was listed in stable but life-threatening condition on Friday night.
Police said the shooting happened in the back parking lot of Castlebrooke Secondary School, near The Gore Road and Gardenbrooke Trail. Officers were called to the scene shortly after noon. The school was temporarily placed in a hold and secure as police investigated.
A friend of the victim took him to hospital suffering from what appeared to be gunshot wounds. He was later taken to a trauma centre, police said
"Investigators believe this to be a targeted incident as the suspect was seen fleeing the area," police said in a news release on Friday night.
No risk to public safety, police say
Const. Sarah Patten, spokesperson for Peel Regional Police, said police believe the student attends a school in the area. She added that police do not believe there is a risk to public safety.
Malon Edwards, spokesperson for the Peel District School Board, confirmed in a statement on Friday that the student was injured in the school's parking lot. He said staff with the school and the board are working with police on the investigation.
"We are currently providing support for the students and staff at Castlebrooke Secondary School. The safety, well-being and mental health of our students is our top priority," Edwards said.
Police say the teen was taken into custody Saturday morning.
Shooting follows other violent incidents at schools
The parking lot shooting comes as other schools in the Greater Toronto Area are dealing with violent incidents in the last few weeks.
Toronto police responded to reports of a stabbing inside Birchmount Park Collegiate in the city's east end Monday afternoon as students were being dismissed for the day.
Police said a 17-year-old student was found with apparent stab wounds and taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. On Tuesday, he was listed in critical but stable condition.
The stabbing came two weeks after a shooting outside Woburn Collegiate Institute, another high school in the east end, left one student dead and injured another.
