On April 8, Edmonton police received reports of an attack near McNally High School in the Forest Heights neighborhood. The victim, a teenage boy, was rushed to hospital.
An Alberta Health Services spokesman told CBC News at the time that the teenager was in a life-threatening condition.
The 16-year-old boy died of his injuries on Friday, according to police.
“This tragedy has affected so many, but this is not the time for anger or hatred – this is the time to mourn and heal as a community,” said the sergeant. Colin Leathem of the Edmonton Police Services homicide unit, who is in charge of the investigation.
The autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, according to police.
School committee director Darrell Robertson spoke early Saturday afternoon, expressing his condolences to the boy’s family.
“The reality is that whatever answers we are going to find in the coming days and weeks will be far below our expectations,” Robertson said. “Now is the time to unite as a community.”
Rhonda Spence, whose daughter attends McNally High School, was surprised to learn of the attack and is devastated by the teenager’s death.
“I did not know what to think,” Spence said.
“No one sends their children to school thinking that their children will not return at the end of the day. So my heart is completely broken for the family.”
Spence was at the school at about the same time as police were alerted to the April 8 incident to pick up her daughter. She chose to pick up her daughter from school because of concerns about her safety if she was to drive public transport, she explained.
Ronda Spence says her daughter, McNally High School student, is shocked by the attack and is now a little scared to go to school. (Craig Ryan / CBC)
While waiting in her vehicle, she said she noticed some students passing by where they seemed to be looking a little more carefully around the vehicles before heading to the bus stop.
“I never thought about it too much,” Spence said. “It was just unusual. That day seemed a little uncomfortable or different.”
When her daughter got into the vehicle, Spence asked her what was going on at school that day. Her daughter was confused, saying that nothing special was happening.
Spence continued, making the loop to get out of the school parking lot. He only later learned that the boy had been attacked and clung to life, he said.
Her worries about her daughter’s riding have intensified now, she said.
“I want to be able to come here every day to pick her up, just to make sure she is safe and does not need to take the bus home.”
Darrell Robertson, director of the Edmonton Public School Board, spoke Saturday afternoon about the boy’s death. He hopes that the community can unite to support each other. (Craig Ryan / CBC)
Speaking to reporters Saturday, Robertson assured parents that Edmonton Public Schools is a safe place, saying staff put safety first and work hard to keep track of students.
He also expressed the school’s support for the students affected by the incident and noted that they have access to the Edmonton Police’s support team for crime and trauma.
Investigators have identified a number of suspected youths, according to police. EPS may not provide more information right now, but the force will share further updates next week.
Anyone with homicide information should contact EPS at 780-423-4567 or # 377 on their mobile phone. Individuals can also submit information anonymously to Crime Stoppers online or by calling 1-800-222-8477.
