Grade 8 student assaulted by stranger after leaving Edmonton school

EDMONTON – Police are investigating after a girl, walking to catch her bus after school, was the victim of an attempted robbery in west Edmonton.

Police say the girl was walking in the area of 144 Street and 103 Avenue around 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 17 when she was approached by a male who she didn’t know. He reportedly pulled out an object, hit the student and searched through her book bag. Nothing was taken, but the student sustained minor injuries.

The suspect – who police think is a youth – was wearing a hoodie to hide his face, so there are limited suspect descriptions. Police have searched the area where the incident happened and have spoken with nearby residents.

In a letter to parents on Wednesday, the principal of Westminster School shared some information about the incident.

“While walking to catch her bus after school, a Grade 8 girl was assaulted by a stranger in what appears to be an attempted robbery,” wrote Denise McNeill.

“The girl was struck, pushed to the ground, and had her backpack searched. When the attacker found nothing of value, he left the scene. The assault happened between the skateboard park and Stony Plain Road. The girl reported the incident to her parents, who contacted the Edmonton Police Service. Fortunately the girl was not seriously hurt, but she did sustain some bruises and scratches.

“We take incidents like this very seriously and what happened yesterday is very disturbing. I would encourage you to talk to your children about this and remind them to always be aware of their surroundings, try to walk with a friend or group of friends and report any serious situation like this to a trusted adult, teacher or school principal as soon as possible.”

Police say there have been no additional reports or concerns in the area. The file is still under investigation.