Police Charge Youth in Connection to Multiple Swatting Incidents in Kitchener

Waterloo Region, Ontario – Waterloo Regional Police have charged a Kitchener youth in connection to multiple swatting incidents in Kitchener.

Between May 2024 and October 2024, WRPS officers responded to 13 swatting calls, false reports designed to elicit a significant police response.

The targets of these swatting calls were varied and included threats of violence towards public events, secondary schools, commercial businesses, private residences, and individuals.

In the first incident, on May 29, 2024, Waterloo Regional Police received a call from an individual threatening to bring a handgun to St. Mary’s High School in Kitchener and to cause harm to students. These threats resulted in the closure of St. Mary’s High School on May 29, 2024 and May 30, 2024, as well as the cancellation of an annual Relay for Life event hosted by the school in support of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Over the next five months, several other swatting incidents occurred, including threats to detonate an explosive at a Kitchener business, shoot individuals in a residence, and conduct mass shootings at a Canada Day celebration in Victoria Park and two Kitchener schools, St. Mary’s High School and Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute. Cameron Heights Collegiate was also closed for one day as a result of the threat.

WRPS officers responded to and investigated each incident, determining them all to be false reports.

As part of the ongoing investigation by WRPS’ General Investigations Unit, several warrants were completed, including a search warrant at a Kitchener residence. Multiple electronic devices were seized and analyzed.

As a result of the investigation, on November 4, 2024, a 15-year-old Kitchener youth was charged with 29 criminal offences, including:

• Public Mischief (eight counts)
• Utter Threats to Cause Death (eight counts)
• Mischief - Interfere with Lawful Enjoyment of Property (two counts)
• Party to the Offence of Public Mischief (five counts)
• Party to the Offence of Utter Threats to Cause Death (four counts)
• Party to the Offence of Criminal Harassment (two counts)

The youth was held in police custody for a bail hearing and will appear in court on December 6, 2024.

The youth will not be identified in accordance with the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

WA24141231 (917), WA24138491 (917), WA24137492 (917), WA24141435 (917), WA24150302 (917), WA24154073 (917), WA24172426 (917), WA24167555 (917), WA24154548 (917), WA24275772 (917), WA24158056 (917)

Media Inquiries:
Waterloo Regional Police Service
Public Information Unit
519-570-9777 (WRPS) ext. 8188
publicinfo@wrps.on.ca 

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