After days of silence, RCMP acknowledges La Loche school stabbings

After several days of silence, the Saskatchewan RCMP has issued a brief statement on the double stabbing at a high school in La Loche that left a student and staff member in hospital.

According to information provided by La Loche Mayor Georgina Joilbois, the incident last Thursday started as a fight between two 15-year-old boys at Dene High School in the northern community. One of them pulled a knife, the mayor said, and stabbed the other boy and an educational assistant who was attempting to intervene.

Both victims were taken to hospital for treatment, Jolibois added, and according to the Northern Lights School Division the perpetrator was arrested by the RCMP. Classes were cancelled Friday, but the school was open to offer support services to any students or staff affected by the incident.

After not responding to numerous requests for comment, the Saskatchewan RCMP issued a brief statement at 8:03 a.m. Monday.

“On April 20th, 2023, at approximately 2:30 p.m., La Loche RCMP received a report of an assault in progress at the Dene High School in La Loche, Saskatchewan,” the RCMP statement read.

“RCMP officers were dispatched and immediately responded to the school, locating an injured student and teacher. Both were transported and received medical assistance. There was no risk to the public as this incident was resolved quickly.”

The Mounties said the incident remains under police investigation, and noted that “more details will be provided when available.”

Anyone with information that could help the investigation was asked to contact the La Loche RCMP detachment or Crime Stoppers.

According to a post shared on the school’s Facebook page Friday, school staff met with representatives from the RCMP, the school division and the Saskatchewan Health Authority to plan a staggered re-entry for students this week. The RCMP did not mention the meeting in its statement.