Assault suspect that kept students in St. John's west end in school after hours arrested, police say

A teenager involved in a targeted attack that left a woman hospitalized and sent schools in the area into high alert has been arrested, according to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

RNC Const. James Cadigan told CBC News that the alleged attack happened at a home on Curling Place, near the Village Mall. Police responded just before 11:30 a.m. NT.

Cadigan said the woman was taken to hospital after an assault at the residence. In an update just before 4 p.m. NT, the RNC said the woman sustained "serious but non-life threatening injuries."

Police sent another update after 6 p.m., saying the teen had been located and arrested.

Police say the woman lives at the residence where the alleged attack took place. Police say it's not yet clear whether the suspect also lives there.

Students kept an hour late

The incident forced six schools in the area into a secure mode, the Department of Education confirmed to CBC News in a statement.

Those were Beaconsfield Junior High, Waterford Valley High School, Cowan Heights Elementary, St. Matthew's Elementary, Hazelwood Elementary and École Rocher du Nord. That meant students remained inside and no visitors were permitted entry.

In a following statement, the department said due to the RNC presence it was dismissing students an hour later than normal, adding buses will also run exactly an hour late.

"This will provide parents with the opportunity to pick up their students at the school or at their bus stops," the statement reads.

"There was no threat to the school or students, but the RNC made the request out of an abundance of caution. Students were safe and supervised in their classrooms during this time."

One of the schools, Cowan Heights Elementary, wouldn't allow any students to walk home. Parents, guardians or emergency contacts of those students had to pick them up.

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