RCMP say a 17−year−old female student is dead and a fellow student is in police custody after a violent assault at a school just south of Edmonton.
Mounties say the attack happened this morning in a classroom at Christ the King School in Leduc, which has about 350 students in Grades 9 to 12.
The girl, was airlifted to an Edmonton hospital where she died of her injuries, and her death is being investigated as a homicide.
Bob Young, mayor of Leduc, says the girl was stabbed and all schools in the area were locked down until police made an arrest.
Police say a 19−year−old man, who was a student at the same school, was later taken into custody at another location.
Insp. Dale Kendall says the two students were known to each other, but she won’t say if it’s believed that the attack was targeted.
She also won’t confirm if the girl was stabbed.
“This is a true tragedy. It is incomprehensible that an act such as this could happen here in our close−knit community of Leduc,” she told a news conference Monday.
“This is life altering for the family and friends of the deceased, the youth and staff at Christ the King and for our entire community.
“If there ever is a time to support your neighbours and hug your loved ones, this is it.”
The school’s police resource officer was not present at the time of the attack, Kendall added.
Major crimes investigators were taking control of the case and officers were not looking for more suspects.
