HAMILTON — A 15-year-old Hamilton youth has been charged after another student was injured in an incident involving a BB gun at St. Charles Learning Centre, police said Wednesday.

Hamilton Police said officers were called to the East 5th Street learning centre at approximately 10:53 a.m. on Tuesday, October 13, following a report that a student had been shot with a BB gun.

A 14-year-old boy suffered injuries to his face and was taken to hospital for treatment. Police did not provide an update on his condition.

Lockdown and hold-and-secure measures lifted

Investigators said the suspect left the area before officers arrived. St. Charles Learning Centre was placed in lockdown while nearby Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Elementary School was placed in a hold and secure as a precaution.

Both safety measures were later lifted. The learning centre said normal operations had resumed and thanked the school communities for their patience.

Three charges laid

Police said a 15-year-old boy from Hamilton was arrested and charged with assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

The accused cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.

Police said the BB gun involved has not been recovered and the investigation remains open. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact the Division Three Criminal Investigation Branch.

Arrest is a material update

CHCH first reported the school safety response Tuesday while the incident was still under investigation. Wednesday’s police release added the arrest, the specific charges and confirmation that the BB gun remains outstanding.

Sources

Lead image: a Hamilton Police Service Ford Police Interceptor photographed by the Hamilton Police Service, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Illustrative file photograph; it does not depict the school incident.