Montreal police arrest 3 teens after stabbing leaves 16-year-old in critical condition

Montreal police have arrested three teenagers in connection to the stabbing of a 16-year-old in Pointe-Claire, in the West Island.

The 16-year-old boy is in critical condition with life-threatening injuries, according toMontreal police spokesperson Const. Vronique Comtois.

Police say two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old have been arrested.

In an update at around 11 p.m.,police said a 15-year-oldboy also arrived inhospital with non-life threatening injuries Tuesday. Policesaidhe had been stabbed and they believe his injuries are connected to the same dispute.

Authorities were notified at 2:40 p.m. about an altercation between two groups of people near the corner of Broadview and John-Fisher Avenues, not far from St. Thomas High School.

During the altercation, the 16-year-oldwas injured in the upper body, Comtoissaid.

A passerby saw what happened and helped the victim into a vehicle on John-Fisher Avenue. That's where police found the victimwhen they arrived and he was taken to hospital, Comtoissaid.

A security perimeter was set up where the incident took place so investigators could search for evidence.

Comtois said police will be speaking with witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage, if there is any, in an effort to better understand how many people were involved and what exactly transpired.

Tiana Robert, a Grade 8 student at St. Thomas, said teachers were talking about a commotion outside. She looked out the window and saw students gathered and buses parked out front, but nothing serious.

Later, she noticed some kids were crying and very upset, she said. That's when she learned somebody had been hurt. She hopes it's not somebody she knows, she said.

She said this is the last thing she expected to happen at her school. She's never even seen a fight at school, she said.

"You're supposed to think, 'oh wow, it's super safe, Pointe-Claire.' And then this happens, something you only hear about in the news," she said. "It's kind of scary."

Due to the ongoing police investigation into the incident, St. Thomas High Schoolwill be closed to all students on Wednesday, the Lester B. Pearson School Board said.

Darren Becker, aspokesperson for the board, said it's still unconfirmed if the victim is a student at St. Thomas, nor is it confirmed if anyone arrested is a student.But some of those involved in the incident doattend the school, he said.

There were also several students who witnessed the altercation, Becker said, notingthere will be support services available to anybody in the school community who needs help in the coming days.

"It's an extremely unfortunate incident," Becker said.

"The whole school board community, not just St. Thomas, is shocked and distressed by this senseless act of violence. These kind of acts seem to be happening way too often in recent months."