Accused in Brandon sword attack ordered to have mental health assessment
The exterior of Neelin High School in Brandon, Man., pictured on June 11, 2025. (Joseph Bernacki/CTV News)
The student accused in a Brandon high school sword attack has been ordered to undergo a mental health assessment.
A 16-year-old student at Neelin High School in Brandon was arrested and charged last week after he allegedly brought a sword to school and attacked a fellow student.
The victim, Chinonso Onuke, suffered multiple injuries, including wounds to his chest, abdomen and leg, which required emergency surgery.
The accused's lawyer, Robert Harrison, confirmed to CTV News Wednesday that a provincial judge in Brandon ordered a forensic assessment for his client on Tuesday to learn if he is suffering from any psychological or mental health disorders.
The assessment is to be done in 30 days.
Meanwhile, Brandon police said it is still working with the Crown to determine if any additional charges will be laid.
'Significant material disclosure has been made to the Crown Attorney's Office, inclusive of statements and digital evidence, a thorough analysis by the Crown's Office of the investigative materials is underway,' Brandon Police Chief Tyler Bates said in an email to CTV News. 'The collective assessment of the evidence disclosed to the Crown Attorney's Office will dictate whether any additional charges are warranted. We continue to work in close collaboration with the Crown to assess all available evidence.'
Police confirmed the teenager is still in custody. He has been charged with attempted murder, uttering threats, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and disguise with intent.
The charges haven't been tested in court.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
9 minutes ago
- CTV News
First day of summer brings sobering reminder for boaters
Boats docked on the water in Georgina, Ont., on Fri., June 20, 2025. The first official day of summer means boating season is well underway and York Regional Police (YRP) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are doing their part in reminding the public to not drink and drive, including on the water. 'It's important to raise awareness about being impaired by drugs or alcohol and operating a vehicle, whether it's a boat or a car, is still catastrophic when there are crashes,' said Rebecca Blight, president MADD York Region. YRP and MADD have once again partnered up and put signs under bridges on waterways to remind boaters to not drive impaired. YRP Impaired Boating Campaign A MADD Ontario 'report impaired boating' sign is pictured. (CTV News/Luke Simard) 'The sign that's under the bridge reminds boaters to do two things, one call 911 if they suspect that there's an impaired boater, and to remind boaters not to consume alcohol or drugs prior to getting into a boat or while they're operating a boat,' said Russ Bellman, superintendent of support services for YRP. Blight added rules are the same for drivers and boaters. 'People think that when they're on a boat the laws really don't apply to them - it's still the same, you still are impaired, whether it's drugs or alcohol,' said Blight. 'It can be more dangerous to do that because you're on a body of water.' Blight added that impaired driving creates a ripple effect that touches entire families and communities. 'It's not just that person that's involved, it's their mother, their sister, their sister's friend, their best friend, their dad, their dad's friend,' said Blight. YRP Impaired Boating Campaign Members of York Regional Police and M.A.D.D. stand in front of the R.I.D.E. YRP vehicle on Fri., June 20, 2025. (CTV News/Luke Simard) YRP is reminding all boaters be proactive when it comes to safety on the water. 'Wear an approved life-jacket, have the right safety equipment on, tell people when you're out on the water, tell somebody where you're going, and when you're going to be back,' said Bellman. Officers will be patrolling Lake Simcoe, cracking down on boaters under the influence this summer. Police remind the public that on the water, the rules are the same as on the road — if you boat impaired, you'll face the same serious charges as impaired driving.
CTV News
17 minutes ago
- CTV News
One person stabbed on TTC streetcar in downtown Toronto: police
Police are on Queen Street West where one person was stabbed on a streetcar on Friday, June 20, 2025. (CP24) Toronto police say one person has been stabbed on a TTC streetcar downtown. Officers got a call just before 4 p.m. for a stabbing near Queen Street West and Peter Street, east of Spadina Avenue. When they arrived, police said they found a male victim suffering from a stab wound. Toronto paramedics told CTV News Toronto that the victim was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Police say the female suspect fled the area in an unknown direction.
CTV News
26 minutes ago
- CTV News
B.C. program targeting repeat violent offenders receives funding boost
British Columbia's Minister for Public Safety and Solicitor General Gary Begg meets with Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin during the swearing-in ceremony at Government House in Victoria, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito SURREY — British Columbia's public safety minister says the provincial government is adding another $6 million to a policing initiative targeting repeat violent offenders. Gary Begg says the money for the Special Investigation and Targeted Enforcement program will build on the initiative's past successes in leading to more than 2,600 criminal charges since its launch in 2023. Begg says the funding has supported nearly 150 investigations in dozens of communities, leading to 'substantial' seizures of weapons, drugs and stolen goods. The minister, who's a former RCMP officer, says policing challenges have been made more complex as 'mental health struggles, the toxic opioid crisis and homelessness have intensified in recent years.' Begg says the program was launched originally as a three-year pilot project aimed at boosting policing capacity, and police departments now say it's 'as a critical tool in combating repeat violence.' He says the funding for the program has benefited agencies, including the Metro Vancouver Transit Police, and is also credited by Vancouver police for a substantial drop in violent crime along the city's Hastings Street. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 20, 2025.
