Neelin student injured in sword attack

Brandon police took a 16-year-old male into custody following a sword attack at École Secondaire Neelin High School Tuesday afternoon that prompted a lockdown of the building.

A 15-year-old male student was rushed by ambulance to the Brandon Regional Health Centre in serious condition after suffering stab wounds to his chest, forearms, hands and thighs, police said.

He was later upgraded to stable condition.

Brandon Police Service Insp. Jason Dupuis said the victim’s “injuries were significant and serious.”

At a 5:30 p.m. press conference, Dupuis said police responded to a call from a Neelin student saying “a male is going crazy and holding a sword” at 1:15 p.m.

Police arrived at the school three minutes later and found the suspect at 1:22 p.m., Dupuis said.

Officers used a Taser on the suspect and arrested him.

Police Chief Tyler Bates said police didn’t believe there were any other victims.

As a precaution, the school was placed under lockdown. A post by the Brandon School Division Tuesday afternoon noted that the lockdown had been implemented “due to an intruder in the building with a weapon.”

BPS officers and cadets stood at the entrances surrounding the school when the Sun arrived before 3 p.m., and parents were lined up outside the gymnasium to pick up their children, with many students walking out of the school holding hands with their parents, giving them hugs and crying.

Students described the attack and its aftermath.

“I saw him chasing one of our students with a sword, then I ran to class,” said Fathia, who didn’t want to use her full name.

“I was just scared, that’s all,” she said through tears while standing next to her mom, who picked her up from the school.

Another student described the chaos that happened after the attack started.

“All I know is all of a sudden, doors were slamming and we got told to sit in the corner and our teacher directed us to turn the lights off, sit in the corner and pretty much be quiet,” said Jordan-Blayne Bjornsson, standing beside a parent while leaving the school’s gym.

“We were definitely all scared, ’cause we didn’t know exactly what was happening,” the Grade 12 student said. “None of us felt very good and I know there were a lot of people crying.”

She said police escorted students to the gymnasium after a while.

“People were panicked, people were sad,” said Bjornsson. “I think a lot of people were just scared and they didn’t know what happened.

“People thought people may have been hurt, and we just weren’t exactly sure what to do,” she said.

“I didn’t think this would ever happen, especially at a school like Neelin.”

Police didn’t say if the victim and suspect knew each other, and declined to comment further, saying there would be a press conference this morning with more details of what happened.

“Our investigators will be hard at work throughout the night,” said Bates. “We really wanted to get out and at least provide some information to citizens of Brandon, to alleviate angst and concern they would understandably have.”

During the press conference, Bates offered the services’ condolences to the people affected by the attack.

“The Brandon Police Service wants to express their concern for his well-being and well wishes for the injured youth, for his family, for students and staff at Neelin High School,” said Bates.

“Dramatic incidents such as this reverberate and affect many of those that are exposed both directly and indirectly.”

The school day ended early, to allow students to go home.

In a social media post, the school division stated more information would be provided to parents and guardians “at our earliest opportunity.”

» alambert@brandonsun.com