Threats against all 11 Winnipeg schools were pranks, hoaxes; 3 facing charges so far

While all threats made to Winnipeg schools earlier this month have been described as non-credible pranks and hoaxes, police say they are very serious and they intend to find those responsible.

The Winnipeg Police Service says there were 11 threats made against schools in the city between Feb. 3 and 19 – what authorities are calling a “deeply concerning trend.”

“We don’t have the luxury of assuming it’s a prank,” said WPS Staff Sgt. Shaun Venn. “We treat every single one of these as a real and immediate danger until we can prove otherwise.

“We’ve seen schools forced into lockdowns. We’ve seen schools forced into activating other safety measures and protocols. When our children are in school, they shouldn’t have to worry about their safety. Teachers shouldn’t have to be forced to manage these high-stress events instead of teaching.”

Two youths — aged 13 and 16 — and a 30-year-old woman from Toronto are facing charges in three of those, while a 10-year-old was referred to a resource program in another.

Winnipeg police are still investigating five of the threats. Two investigations ended with no criminal charges being laid.

Venn would not say if any of the calls are connected.

“The impact that they’ve had on our city, on our students, on our teachers, on our families, is very real, and the consequences for those responsible, even more so,” he said.

Venn adds every threat can consume an “enormous amount of police resources.”

“Multiple patrol units, tactical support team, canine officers, drones, helicopters,” he said. “We don’t respond the same way every single time, it really depends on the information and the nature of the threat. But if we’re responding to pranks, that means critical emergency resources are being diverted away from lifesaving emergencies in other parts of the city.

“Every single one of these hoax calls, these pranks, puts our entire city at risk.”

Investigations leading to charges

• School on Hastings Boulevard: 30-year-old woman from Toronto facing charges of uttering threats causing death or bodily harm
• School on Flora Avenue: 13-year-old facing charges of uttering threats causing death or bodily harm
• School on Scotia Street: 16-year-old facing charges of uttering threats causing death or bodily harm

Investigations not leading to charges

• School on Church Avenue: 10-year-old referred to the Manitoba government’s Turnabout program.
• School on Bournais Drive: police investigated, no criminal charges laid
• South on Southglen Boulevard: police investigated, no criminal charges laid

Ongoing investigations

• School on Selkirk Avenue
• School on Jefferson Avenue
• School on Church Avenue
• School on Cottonwood Road
• School on Chalmers Avenue