Teen, 16, pleads not guilty to attempted murder after teen stabbed in Montreal's West Island

A 16-year-oldpleaded not guilty in youth court Wednesdaytoattemptedmurder,possession of a weapon and conspiracy to commit assault, after another teenager was stabbed during an altercation near a school in Montreal's West Island.

The accusedwill remain in custody and until the next hearing.

The altercation took place Tuesday afternooninPointe-Claire. Two teens ended up in hospital.

One of thevictims, who is also 16,wasin critical but stable condition as of Wednesday morning. Police said a second victim, a 15-year-old boy,arrived inhospital with non-life-threateninginjuries tied to the same dispute.

Two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old were arrested Tuesday.

According to Montreal police, thealtercation broke out at around 2:40 p.m. between two groupsnear 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, police said. A passerby saw what happened and helped the victim into a vehicle on John-Fisher Avenue, where he was located by police and rushed to hospital.

Police have been speaking with witnessesin an effort to better understand how many people were involved and what exactly happened.

On Wednesday, police said the two other teenagers who were arrested were questioned and released with promises to appear in court.

Police say the suspects and the victims are known to each other.

Community 'shocked and distressed': school board

St. Thomas High School wasclosed toall students Wednesday, but theLester B. Pearson School Boardsays it will reopen Thursday.

Darren Becker, aspokesperson for the board, said it is unconfirmed if thevictim or anyone arrested are students, but he said some of those involved in the incident do attend the school.

As of Wednesday, he said, no one had been suspended in relation to the incident.

In a statement to CBC, school boardchairpersonJudy Kelleysaid the board istaking the incident "extremely seriously."

"Our entire community is shocked and distressed by this senseless act of violence," she said.

The school board saidmental health professionals will be available to offer support to students and staff through the coming days.

The Lester B. Pearson School Board movedSt. Thomas High School students into Lindsay Place High Schoolon Broadview Avenue in July. Lindsay Place High School, which opened in 1962, becameSt. Thomas High School.