In Edmonton, Canada, a 17-year-old girl was stabbed and later on died from sustained injuries.
Police authorities arrested a 19-year-old male suspect and said that the incident being investigated as a homicide.
The male suspect is in custody after the violent attack that happened in Christ the King School in Leduc, Alta., about 35 kilometers south of Edmonton.
While RCMP has not confirmed if the girl was stabbed, they said the death is being investigated as a homicide, and the Major Crimes Unit is taking over the case.
RCMP said that they receive the report of the assault at around 10 a.m.
Inspector Dale Kendall said the attack happened inside one of the school’s classrooms. However, she did not confirm if other students were present at the time.
Kendall confirmed that the 19-year-old suspect was a student at the school and that he and the victim were known to each other, but no other details were provided.
The victim was airlifted to an Edmonton hospital, but she died from her injuries, RCMP said.
Leduc Mayor Bob Young said all schools in the area were locked down after the stabbing incident in the morning, and that the lockdown was lifted by early afternoon.
“I can’t imagine what the parents of that child are experiencing right now,” Young said, who worked as a teacher for 36 years before he was elected mayor. “I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”
A news release from St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic school division reported the death of a student after what it said was a “tragic stabbing incident.”
“This loss will be felt deeply across the Christ the King School community, and across our Division as a whole,” the release said. “We cannot express deeply enough the sorrow we feel for the family members, friends, and staff members who have lost a loved one today, and whose lives will be forever changed.”
Young commended the police and the STAR school division for their prompt response. He also expressed concern for students and staff at the school.
“I really hope they get through this well, and I know they’ll be doing everything they can to help those students impacted,” Young told CBC News before RCMP announced that the victim had died. “I know STAR Catholic schools, their first priority is going to be getting supports in place to deal with all the students that witnessed this.”
According to the school division’s news release, a trauma support team is currently at the school and will remain on-site for the rest of the week.
Classes were canceled for the following day, but the division said the building would remain open for any students needing to access support services.