Police arrest 18-year-old in baseball bat attack on Hamilton teen

Hamilton police have arrested and charged an 18-year-old with aggravated assault and robbery in connection with the attack on Noah Rabbani, the 15-year-old who was brutally beaten while walking home from a friend's house late last month.

The arrest was made Wednesday. Police won't release the 18-year-old's name until he makes his first court appearance Thursday.

Police are still looking for a second male suspect.

After the attack, Rabbani was in intensive care with a cracked skull, injuries to his brain, jaw, limbs and spine, and couldn't move the right side of his body.

While Rabbani was in hospital and unable to speak, his family wondered if the incident might be a hate crime. Rabbani is Muslim and Pakistani.

But police said late Wednesday they're still investigating and don't yet have evidence it's a hate crime.

"There is no indication to suggest that this incident is hate motivated," said Const. Asuf Khokar. Police offered no information about what the motive was for the attack.

Rabbani's father, Khalid, told CBC News that the family is "very upset about the charge," and believes what happened to his son amounts to attempted murder.

"In my mind it's a bunch of crap, he could have killed my son," he said, adding that his son doesn't know his accused attacker at all.

A Facebook profile shows the accused attended Saltfleet Secondary School in Hamilton, where Rabbani also goes to school.

Long recovery for Rabbani

An anti-violence vigil Sunday drew about 100 people to the area where Rabbani was attacked — Rymal and Fletcher roads on the Mountain. 

Rabbani has been released from hospital but has a long way to go to get back to the teen he was before the attack, his family said.

An online fundraiser raised close to $80,000, and has now been closed.

"It's going to be a long road to recovery," said his aunt, Huma Aslam, last week. "All the love and the prayers, God willing, he'll be fine soon."

More charges for 18-year-old suspect

The arrest was made as part of a sting called Project Trail-Finder focused on home break-ins and violent crime.

The 18-year-old was arrested as part of that sting and then, police say, the link was discovered to the baseball bat attack. 

Police also charged him with cocaine possession for the purpose of trafficking, breaking and entering, possessing stolen property, four counts of possessing ammunition against a court order and nine counts of breaching probation. He's expected to appear in court Thursday morning.

Police ask anyone with information about the baseball bat attack or the second suspect to contact Det. Mike Hall at 905-546-4947 or Crime Stoppers.

The operation also involved 10 other suspects arrested on charges including cocaine and marijuana possession, possessing ammunition and altering the Vehicle Identification Number of vehicles. 

There were two minors arrested as part of the operation: A 14-year-old and a 15-year-old were charged with stealing a vehicle.