Several youth are in police custody following what Delta Police say was a targeted attack against another youth at a North Delta park Monday afternoon.
According to police, on Monday a 16-year-old male reported that he had been attacked by several individuals wearing masks in and around Annieville Park. The victim was threatened, punched and eventually suffered stab wounds to his body by one or more of the suspects.
Police located and provided emergency first aid to the victim until Delta Fire and paramedics arrived. The victim was taken to hospital and is being treated for serious, but non-life threatening injuries. The victim is expected to make a full recovery.
“As this attack happened within the proximity of several schools, members of the DPD worked with the Delta School District and placed Delview Secondary, Annieveille Elementary and Gibson Elementary into a precautionary “secure and hold” until police could take all necessary actions to locate the suspects,” said Acting Staff Sgt. Mike Whiteley. “The police investigation quickly determined that the incident was a targeted attack. The victim appears to be currently involved in a dispute with other individuals he knows from school. This incident is not believed to be connected to the BC Gang Conflict or gang-related.”
Whiteley said several youths involved in the attack were located by police and taken into custody. The potential suspects were students who went to school with the victim. The school administration has been working with investigators to assess this incident’s impact on all students at the school.
He said all of the suspect youth’s parents have been notified of the incident, and school administration is taking all necessary steps they deem necessary by sanctioning the involved students as the investigation continues.
“Anytime we see high levels of violence at our or near schools, it is a significant pause for concern as to the welfare of the youth of our community,” said Chief Neil Dubord. “It is troubling a dispute has escalated to this level of violence.”
Whiteley said investigators are at the preliminary steps of gathering evidence with the intention to forward a report to Crown Counsel seeking charges against those involved related to this incident.
