Student stabbed, seriously injured near west-end Toronto high school

Toronto police are investigating after a student was stabbed and injured near a high school in the city’s west end.

Officers first reported that the stabbing happened inside Oakwood Collegiate Institute in Regal Heights just before 1 p.m. In an update, a spokesperson said the incident occurred nearby.

Duty Inspector Peter Wehby said a 17-year-old male student was found suffering from a stab wound to his midsection in a stairwell of the school.

Insp. Wehby confirmed that the violent incident happened outside the school, and the teen returned to seek help. The 17-year-old was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries, and he is now in stable condition.

“We just got back from lunch, we were in guidance [class] and all of a sudden we heard ‘lockdown, lockdown’,” said one student who spoke to CityNews.

“Honestly, it shook a lot of people,” said another student. “You don’t know who it could have been. We’re all looking around at each other and be like, we could be missing a few people here.”

The high school, located at St. Clair Avenue West near Dufferin Street, was placed in lockdown, which has since been lifted. Students were dismissed from school for the day around 3 p.m. Thursday.

There is no suspect description at this time.

In a letter sent home to parents, school officials say TDSB social workers will be at the school on Friday to speak with anyone who may need additional support and that “supports will remain in place for as long as they are needed.”