Toronto police say three teens were stabbed near a school in Scarborough on Friday afternoon.
Officers arriving on scene believe an altercation took place among several male teenagers around 3:30 p.m. at a retail plaza across the street from David and Mary Thomson High School.
“Some kind of altercation took place at a plaza at a store across the street from the school,” Const. David Hopkinson told AM640. “It looks like several of the victims retreated into the school.”
Paramedics said three male teens have been transported to hospital, one in life-threatening condition and two with serious injuries, who are now in stable condition.
A witness, who is in grade 11 at David and Mary, told Global News he was leaving school when he saw a “bunch of people crowding around,” so he crossed the street and saw a male on the ground, bleeding profusely with people around him applying pressure.
He said he was “shocked” that this type of incident happened. He said fights do happen at the McDonald’s close to the school but never stabbings.
Another witness named Musa told Global News the event was “traumatizing,” adding altercations like this aren’t “very common around here.”
Toronto District School Board spokesperson Ryan Bird confirmed that a 17-year-old student from the school was injured and that his parents have been notified.
The school, located at Lawrence Avenue and Rushley Drive, was placed under a hold and secure for about an hour, but it has since been lifted.
“We’re trying to help police in anyway we can, but at this point we don’t believe the school will be the focus of their activities,” said Bird. “We believe they are focusing more on the nearby retail plaza.”
Investigators are still looking for suspects.
Road closures are in effect.