Teen accused of threats to Halifax high school now charged with promoting hatred

The teenager arrested for allegedly making threats against a Halifax high school is now facing a series of new weapon and gun charges, and is also accused of promoting hatred against Jewish and African-Nova Scotian communities.

A 16-year-old was arrested at his home in the early hours of April 23 after police received a tip from a suicide hotline operator alleging the teen said he was going shoot up Citadel High and then take his own life.

The teen was scheduled to appear in Halifax youth court on Wednesday for a bail hearing, but it was adjourned until May 12 because a series of new charges were laid. He is now facing a total of 33 charges.

"The Crown's case is still being formulated, but [there's] all the indications that this is a very serious matter," Crown prosecutor Terry Nickerson said after Wednesday's hearing.

Nickerson said the Crown has received a large volume of evidence related to the case, including material found on four laptops and a cellphone. The Crown continues to receive evidence from police and more charges could be laid, he said. 

Threats against students

The teen, whose identity is protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, was initially charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, unsafe storage of ammunition and one count of uttering threats.

Halifax Regional Police Chief Don MacLean said during a news conference last week that police didn't believe there was a threat against anyone specifically at the school. 

But the teen is now charged with making threats against three specific students. He is also charged with willfully promoting hatred against Black and Jewish communities over the last year by creating online hate groups, according to court documents. 

Many of the new charges relate to rifles, shotguns and different airguns found at the teen's home. He faces 12 counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and six counts of unauthorized possession of a firearm.

He was also charged with possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose for both brass knuckles and a knife, the court documents said. Two other counts relate to the brass knuckles being a prohibited weapon.

The youth was ordered to remain in custody until the next hearing and is prohibited from having any contact with any students at Citadel High.