A 15-year old boy from Oak Park High School has been arrested and police say will be charged with assault after lighting a student’s hair on fire. The victim is a 15 year old girl who attends the same school.
Police say that on Nov. 18th the suspect allegedly used anti-Semitic slurs against a Jewish girl and then lit her hair on fire. The victim reported the incident to a school counselor on Nov. 21st and that’s when police were notified.
“The suspect will be charged at this point with assault with a weapon and other charges may be pending. The department of justice has to review the case to lay any potential hate crime charges,” said Constable Rob Carver, Winnipeg Police Service.
The suspect has been suspended and was withdrawn from the school shortly after by his legal guardian.
An official from the Pembina Trails School Division says it’s the first incident of this kind the school division has encountered.
“There are still events where kids are aggressive with one another or some bullying events and of course we are working at diminishing that,” said Lawrence Lussier, Superintendent with Pembina Trails School Division.
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