Youth Charged After School Bus Incident Involving Weapon & Hate Speech
A 17-year-old has been charged with multiple offences, including assault and public incitement of hatred, following a school bus altercation involving a weapon and racial slurs in South Bruce.
On November 20, 2024, at approximately 4:47 p.m., the South Bruce Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of an altercation between two students on a school bus.
The investigation revealed that a 17-year-old individual allegedly brandished an edged weapon and directed racial slurs at another student. Following a thorough investigation, the youth was arrested and charged with multiple offences under the Criminal Code of Canada, including:
Assault (Section 266)
Assault with a weapon (Section 267(a))
Possession of a weapon (Section 88)
Uttering threats (Section 264.1(1)(a))
Intimidation (Section 423(1)(a))
Public incitement of hatred (Section 319(1))
As the accused is a minor, their identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA).
The South Bruce OPP emphasized their zero-tolerance policy toward hate-based crimes, stating that acts of hate against individuals or property based on race, ethnicity, language, religion, gender identity, or other protected characteristics are unacceptable. These principles are supported by both the Criminal Code of Canada and the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about this incident to contact the South Bruce OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Those who wish to remain anonymous can reach out to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a secure web tip at www.cstip.ca. Anonymous tips may qualify for a cash reward of up to $2,000.
The investigation continues.