Teen, 16, pleads not guilty to attempted murder after teen stabbed in Montreal's West Island

 A 16-year-old pleaded not guilty in youth court Wednesday to attempted murder, possession of a weapon and conspiracy to commit assault, after another teenager was stabbed during an altercation near a school in Montreal's West Island.

The accused will remain in custody and until the next hearing.

The altercation took place Tuesday afternoon in Pointe-Claire. Two teens ended up in hospital.

One of the victims, who is also 16, was in critical but stable condition as of Wednesday morning. Police said a second victim, a 15-year-old boy, arrived in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries tied to the same dispute. 

Two 16-year-olds and a 17-year-old were arrested Tuesday. 

According to Montreal police, the altercation broke out at around 2:40 p.m. between two groups near the corner of Broadview and John-Fisher avenues, not far from St. Thomas High School.

During the altercation, the 16-year-old was injured in the upper body, police said. A passerby saw what happened and helped the victim into a vehicle on John-Fisher Avenue, where he was located by police and rushed to hospital. 

Police have been speaking with witnesses in an effort to better understand how many people were involved and what exactly happened.

On Wednesday, police said the two other teenagers who were arrested were questioned and released with promises to appear in court.  

Police say the suspects and the victims are known to each other.

Community 'shocked and distressed': school board

St. Thomas High School was closed to all students Wednesday, but the Lester B. Pearson School Board says it will reopen Thursday.

Darren Becker, a spokesperson for the board, said it is unconfirmed if the victim or anyone arrested are students, but he said some of those involved in the incident do attend the school.

As of Wednesday, he said, no one had been suspended in relation to the incident.

In a statement to CBC, school board chairperson Judy Kelley said the board is taking the incident "extremely seriously."

"Our entire community is shocked and distressed by this senseless act of violence," she said. 

The school board said mental health professionals will be available to offer support to students and staff through the coming days.

The Lester B. Pearson School Board moved St. Thomas High School students into Lindsay Place High School on Broadview Avenue in July. Lindsay Place High School, which opened in 1962, became St. Thomas High School.