The community of Pickering is responding to a violent incident that occurred Wednesday morning, involving a student at a local secondary school. At approximately 11:15 a.m. on April 15, Durham Regional Police were called to assist paramedics at Pine Ridge Secondary School after a student reported being assaulted with a weapon. The investigation quickly revealed that an altercation had taken place between two students just off the school property. During the confrontation, the suspect reportedly demanded that the victim hand over his personal belongings; when the victim refused, the situation escalated into a targeted robbery and assault.
According to police reports, the Pine Ridge Secondary School stabbing occurred after the suspect brandished a knife and attacked the victim. The injured youth was quickly located and transported to a Toronto-area trauma centre. Fortunately, while the injuries were described as serious, they were determined to be non-life-threatening, and the victim is expected to recover. The incident prompted a brief but intense police presence at the school, where officers were able to locate the suspect a short time later. The 20-year-old was taken into custody without incident, providing some immediate relief to the students and faculty at the facility.
The suspect has been identified by Durham Regional Police as Zaidan Ibrahim Mohamed Abkar, a 20-year-old resident of Pickering. Following the Pine Ridge Secondary School stabbing, Abkar is now facing a half-dozen criminal charges, including aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, and robbery. Additionally, he has been charged with assault, possession of a dangerous weapon, and failure to comply with a probation order. He was held pending a bail hearing as investigators continue to gather evidence regarding the timeline of the attack and the relationship between the two individuals involved.
The West Division Criminal Investigations Branch is currently leading the ongoing inquiry. Detective Constable Jean-Paul Ricot-Gomez is heading the search for further evidence and has appealed to the public for assistance. Specifically, police are looking for any cell phone recordings, dashcam footage from the surrounding streets, or residential surveillance video that may have captured the altercation or the suspect’s movements before and after the Pine Ridge Secondary School stabbing. Neighbors near the school reported seeing a heavy police response and expressed concern over the safety of the student population following the broad-daylight attack.
As the legal proceedings against Abkar move forward, the Durham District School Board and local authorities are working to ensure support is available for students affected by the violence. This incident has reignited discussions regarding school safety and the prevalence of weapon-related offenses among youth in the region. Anyone with information that could assist in the prosecution of the Pine Ridge Secondary School stabbing is encouraged to contact the Durham Regional Police or provide an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers. Tipsters who provide information leading to an arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.
