16-year-old charged after weapons brought to St. John's high school

Teen arrested and charged after weapons brought to a St. John's high school, say police

3 days ago

Duration 2:10

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has charged a student with causing a disturbance and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose after weapons were brought to Waterford Valley High School in St. John's. The provinces teachers' union says it's the latest event that highlights an increase in violent incidents in schools. The CBC's Heather Gillis reports.

Police said Wednesday they arrested and charged a teen for bringing weapons to a St. John's high school earlier this week, while the union representing Newfoundland and Labrador's teachers is calling for action after a "very alarming" moment.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary said itwascalled to Waterford Valley High School around 9 a.m. NTMonday morning.

"A 16-year-old male was taken into custody without incident and charged with causing a disturbance and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose," RNC spokesperson Danielle Barron said in a statement.

The Department of Education said in a statement that the student, whowas not permitted to be on school grounds that day, refused to leave. Police helped removed the student, and the weapons were found after that.

Administrators at Waterford Valley High are implementing "appropriate disciplinary action," the statement said.

TheNewfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association says the incident is just one example of rising violence and threats that its members see too often.

"This was a very alarming incident. Very disturbing, and it needs to be treated as such,"said association president Trent Langdon.

"It's worrisome. I'm very fearful of the potential that could have existed here."

Langdon said officials told him thatthe student had a bladed weapon and a defensive spray "like bear spray."

The association has for months been pulling the alarm on increasing violence in schools, saying that teachers were cumulatively dealing withan average of 29 violent incidents in schools each day.

A year earlier, in March 2023, multiple teens attacked and bludgeoned a student with weapons outside Prince of Wales Collegiate in St. John's.The student who was attacked was sent to the Janeway Children's Hospital with head injuries.The youth attackers were charged with attempted murder, but later pleaded guilty to lesser charges. The lone adult involved, Tyler Greening, is awaiting sentencing next month.

Langdon said teachers have to deal with complex issues, including threats to safety.

"It's that full gamut of issues that arise that teachers are responsible for, so we're imploring government to put in the proper resources that teachers need to prevent [incidents] and offer support," Langdon said.

"It's not just at the school level either...Students have lives outside of school, and many timesthey're bringing those lives into the school setting. And so it's the community supports, it's the continuation of support that we need to see there. But we also certainly need to see that preventative nature, or preventive approach, that needs to take place early on."

Langdon said the unionhas advocated for a support hub in schools that would include other professionals, such as social workers and public health nurses.

Download ourfree CBC News appto sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.Click here to visit our landing page.