A Man Attacked A GTA Kindergarten Class With A Curtain Rod
A terrifying incident has left a child with serious injuries after he was struck on the head with a plastic curtain rod on January 15. York Regional Police have arrested a 30-year-old man after a Toronto kindergarten attack in which he allegedly hit the young victim with a curtain rod. The assailant is now facing numerous charges.
The incident happened during recess just after 1 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Elementary School in East Gwillimbury, according to The Canadian Press.
CTV News reports the injured child is just five years old.
The school was under lockdown as officers arrived at the scene. The suspect in question was sitting inside of a family member's car.
Officers were told the man had jumped over a fence into the playground and hit a child with a plastic curtain rod he was carrying. He did not try to gain access to the building itself.
The suspect, who police say suffers from cognitive impairment, had left a nearby residence and walked right onto school property with a plastic curtain pole in hand.
"School staff and a good Samaritan were able to remove the weapon from the suspect and get the students back into the school," states a YRP statement given to Narcity.
This is when he entered the fenced playground and swung at a kid, causing serious injury.
"He scaled the fence and came at them with the pole," a parent and witness told CTV News. "The parent volunteer monitor, she took this man down, she tackled him and got him to the ground and probably saved a lot of other children from being injured."
Investigators believe at this stage that the assault was not premeditated.
The condition of the struck child had not been confirmed at the time of writing.
According to CTV News, the York Catholic District School Board issued a statement on January 16 which states that they are taking this situation "very seriously."
They also announced their intent to review the school's safety plan.
"Recognizing that this incident may have been traumatic for students and staff, a support team has been assembled at the school and will remain in place for as long as they are needed," declared the YCDSB, per CTV News.
"It is regrettable that any students were injured in this incident. We are very thankful that the quick and courageous actions of our staff helped to prevent other students from being harmed."
According to the article, Van Quinn, the school's principal, sent a message to parents to let them know what had happened.
"This person lives in our community with his family, and has special needs," said Quinn in the message, per CTV News.
"York Regional Police and Paramedic Services of York Region were immediately called to the school. The injured student was taken to hospital as a precaution."
The accused is now in custody and has been charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and common nuisance — endangering life.