In Saskatoon, a 15-year-old girl was hospitalized following an alleged assault and fire at Evan Hardy Collegiate today. The Saskatoon Police Service (SPS) responded swiftly to the incident, which has left one teenage girl seriously injured and another in custody. The school is now closed, with classes cancelled for Friday as authorities continue to investigate.
According to Sgt. Ken Kane of the SPS, the investigation is in its early stages, with details subject to change as more evidence is gathered. The initial report came into the police at 12:18 p.m., with a call to 911 reporting both an injured individual and a fire within the school.
By coincidence, a Saskatoon Police Service school resource officer was already on-site for a separate matter and immediately responded to the incident. Within moments, the officer apprehended a 14-year-old female suspect. The suspect was taken into custody, while first responders from the Saskatoon Fire Department and Medavie paramedics tended to the victim, who had suffered burn injuries.
The victim was transported to Royal University Hospital. The extent of her injuries remains unclear, and police have yet to provide an update on her condition.
Sgt. Kane confirmed that police are treating the event as a serious assault involving fire. At this stage, authorities believe that the victim was set on fire by the suspect. However, specific details about how the fire started, including the potential use of accelerants, are still being investigated.
“There was a rapid response,” Sgt. Kane explained, highlighting the critical role the school resource officer played in apprehending the suspect within 60 seconds. “This situation could have been much worse,” he added, noting that the quick actions of both the officer and emergency services helped to contain the incident.
In addition to the 15-year-old victim, a teacher was also injured during the event. According to police, the teacher sustained injuries while attempting to extinguish the fire. The extent of the teacher’s injuries has not been fully disclosed, though it was confirmed that they were taken to the hospital for treatment.
Evan Hardy Collegiate has been closed as police and school officials work together to investigate the incident and provide support to students and staff. According to Sgt. Kane, trauma protocols have been activated to address the psychological impact of the event on students and staff.
While the school board will decide when it is safe to reopen the school, Sgt. Kane emphasized that the investigation will need to be completed before the affected areas can be accessed again.
“There is a lot of concern, not only for the students and staff but also for the officers who responded to this tragic event,” Sgt. Kane said. He added that mental health resources are being made available to the police officers who were involved, acknowledging the emotional toll of dealing with such a distressing incident.
The 14-year-old suspect remains in police custody. As of now, no formal charges have been announced, but the police are expected to provide more information as the investigation progresses. Sgt. Kane indicated that detectives are working closely with school staff and witnesses to determine the relationship, if any, between the victim and the suspect.
“This is not something we ever expected to deal with,” Sgt. Kane remarked during the press conference, underscoring the gravity of the situation. The mood within the police force, he added, was “quite low,” reflecting the emotional weight of the incident.
As the investigation continues, police are urging anyone with information about the event to come forward, stressing that every detail could be vital to understanding what led to this horrifying incident.