A 15-year-old student at Charles P. Allen High School in Bedford, N.S., has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, after two staff members were stabbed at the school on Monday morning.
Halifax Regional Police say the two employees at the school are in serious but stable condition in hospital.
The student, who is not being named as he is a minor, was also transported to hospital on Monday with non-life-threatening stab wounds, police say.
In addition to facing two counts of attempted murder, the 15-year-old is also facing:
- two charges of aggravated assault
- two charges for possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace
- two charges of carrying a concealed weapon
- possession of a prohibited weapon
- possession of a weapon knowing it is unauthorized
- mischief
Police say the investigation is ongoing. The alleged charges have not been proven in court.
The accused made a brief appearance in Nova Scotia youth court Tuesday morning. He wore a face mask and sat in the prisoner’s box with his head bowed. He had a large gauze bandage on his throat.
The Crown is opposed to his release and the matter returns to court Thursday for a bail hearing. The Crown also served notice that if he’s convicted, they will be seeking an adult sentence.
Classes cancelled for second day
In a note sent to parents, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education said on the advice of its crisis team, classes at Charles P. Allen High School have been cancelled for Tuesday.
The school will remain open, the HRCE said, and students will still be able to come in and speak with support staff if they wish to discuss the incident.
The decision to cancel classes runs counter to HRCE’s initial decision to resume instruction at the school at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday.
In an email to parents Monday, school principal Stephanie Bird said school psychologists, social workers and counsellors would be available at Charles P. Allen over the coming days to provide individual and small group supports to students who would like to connect with them.
She also shared the information for the provincial mental health and addictions crisis line at 1-888-429-8167 and the Kids Help Phone for children and youth, which can be reached by dialling 1-800-668-6868 or by texting CONNECT to 686868.