Charges laid after threats made against student at Winnipeg school

WINNIPEG – A number of charges have now been laid against a young man who was arrested after a video allegedly containing threats against students at a Winnipeg high school was posted to YouTube.

Police say they got word Wednesday evening about an unknown male posting a threatening video regarding the school in the River East Transcona division.

An 18-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released, was taken into custody without incident early Thursday afternoon.

He’s been charged with uttering threats, mischief and four counts of harassing communications.

He’s been released with a promise to appear in court.

Kildonan East Collegiate — the school that was allegedly targeted — was put on high alert early Thursday morning and was to retain that status Friday, pending any changes overnight.

Kelly Barkman, superintendent of the division, said Thursday that high alert means staff monitor the premises for strangers and all doors except the front door are locked.

“It’s always worrisome when you have these things happen,” he said. “We are always concerned about safety. We have taken this YouTube threat very seriously.”

The video, titled “Wiping Out Kildonan East,” includes a male voice rapping over a still picture of the school, insulting students by name and including the line “until you guys hit me back, boom, school dead,” followed by the sound of machine gun fire.

Barkman said he has not often encountered threats in his career as a superintendent.

“But there have been different times when it’s been a different type of threat. Anytime we go into any type of lockdown or we do a hold-and-secure or high alert, it’s for a good reason.”