One person was taken to hospital on Friday after a violent incident outside Henry Wise Wood High School in southwest Calgary.
Officers were called to the 900 block of 75th Avenue S.W. for reports of an assault with a weapon.
Police confirmed that a 17-year-old male youth was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries from a stabbing that took place on a Calgary Transit bus outside the school.
The victim was transported to Foothills Medical Centre and has been upgraded to stable condition.
Police said one suspect has been taken into custody. A knife was located nearby.
CPS don’t know if suspect went to the school but says “they are a similar age.”
“We believe that they did know each other, the extent of that relationship we don’t know at this point, but we don’t believe this is a random attack – we believe it was targeted," said a CPS spokesperson.
‘It wasn’t a good sight’
Students told CTV News they noticed someone outside the school acting strangely and later saw someone on the ground outside the skate park nearby.
“There was a guy outside acting erratically. He said that he was going to stab a guy,” one student said.
“It’s obviously not something you want to see. We didn’t expect a guy, people huddled around him, laying there, right? Hands covered in blood. It wasn’t a good sight.”
“It’s not something you want to see at all at school,” he said.
“I couldn’t process it at first and I just can’t believe it happened here so close to all these people that attended school.”
A 15-year-old student described the afternoon incident as ‘something crazy’.
““He was on the ground, there was a bunch of police officers, his hands were covered in blood, there was blood on grass,” he said.
“They got a police helicopter (and) that was pretty unnerving, too. ”(There were) a bunch of police cars there it was really something crazy to see,” he added. “It was definitely something I wouldn’t want to see again.”
“(I’m) very surprised, still can’t fully comprehend it,” said another student.
“(It’s) never something you want to see.”
CBE statement
The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) says help will be offered to those who need it.
“We know that a number of students witnessed this event. This may affect individuals in different ways, and it is important to seek support when needed,” the CBE said in a statement.
“Students are encouraged to speak with their family members about their feelings. Resources will also be available at the school on Monday.”
Lockdown lifted
A lockdown was initiated, but was lifted at 3 p.m., at which time students were allowed to leave.
A Grade 10 student said the school was in lockdown for roughly an hour.
“I was kind of scared. Like, am I going to get harmed?” he said.
The CBE said all students and staff inside the school during the lockdown were safe.
The city posted on social media that roads around the school are closed and significant traffic delays are expected in the area over the next couple hours.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 403-266-1234.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online or by downloading the P3 Tips app.
With files from CTV’s Mark Villani and Stephanie Thomas
