A 13-year-old Peterborough boy is facing 12 charges in connection with three separate assault incidents on Tuesday (March 24), with four other teenagers also facing charges.
The first incident involved a 15-year-old boy who was assaulted around 5:30 p.m. near the food court at Lansdowne Place Mall.
Around an hour later, a second incident also took place at Lansdowne Place Mall, when a different 15-year-old boy was lured outside the mall where he was struck by a suspect and bear-sprayed in the face by another, while other teens watched and recorded the incident. The victim was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre for treatment.
Through a police investigation, five teens were identified as suspects and charged in that incident.
The third incident happened around 9 p.m. in a parking lot of the Shoppers Drug Mart on Chemong Road, where police were called to respond to a report of two masked suspects assaulting a 15-year-old boy with brass knuckles, who was treated at the scene by paramedics.
During the investigation, police determined the victim was the same boy who was assaulted in the first incident, and that the two masked suspects were involved in the previous two assaults. Police went to the homes of the suspects and took them into custody.
As a result of investigations into all three incidents, police have arrested and charged five teenagers.
A 13-year-old Peterborough boy who is accused of being involved in all three incidents has been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of assault, two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, assault causing bodily harm, two counts of disguise with intent, and unauthorized possession of a weapon.
He was also charged with two counts of failure to comply with a probation order, as he is currently bound by two probation orders not to be in contact with one of the other accused suspects and to not possess any weapons.
An 18-year-old Peterborough man who is accused of being involved in the second and third incidents has been charged with assault, assault with a weapon, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, assault causing bodily harm, disguise with intent, and unauthorized possession of a weapon.
A 15-year-old Peterborough boy who is accused of being involved in the second incident has been charged with assault, disguise with intent, and failure to comply with a probation order as he is currently bound by a probation order not to be in contact with one of the other accused suspects.
The three accused teens are being held in custody and will appear in court on Wednesday (March 25).
In addition, a 14-year-old Peterborough girl and a 15-year-old Peterborough boy who are accused of being involved in the second incident have both been charged with being party to assault with a weapon. They were released from custody on an undertaking and are scheduled to appear in court on May 4.
