The Stratford Police Service has charged two Stratford teens following an assault that occurred after a house party.
On October 27 just before 11:30 p.m., police responded to complaints of a large house party on Elgin Street East in St. Marys, with over 100 teenagers in attendance. Officers broke up the party and the partygoers left the premises.
Following that, police responded to an altercation near Elgin Street and James Street South in St. Marys around 12:30 a.m. that involved some of the party attendees.
Police found five victims who had all been pepper sprayed and assaulted at a residence in the area. The victims identified two suspects, an 18-year-old and 15-year-old, both from Stratford.
Investigation determined a 17-year-old victim was initially pepper sprayed and was stomped on. At that point, the other victims attempted to intervene, at which point they were pepper sprayed, and the initial victim was also shot at close range with a pellet gun, causing injuries that required stitches.
Two suspects later turned themselves in to police. The 18-year-old was held in custody and was to attend court on November 1. The 15-year-old was released and has a court date in Stratford on December 14.
During the course of the investigation, police were contacted by a homeowner on Huron Street in St. Marys who said a backpack with a handgun was found on their property. Officers believe the backpack is owned by someone who attended the house party, and the backpack contained a handgun magazine and four rounds of 9mm bullets. However, no handgun was found.
Police cannot prove who the backpack belongs to, so no charges have been laid in relation to the backpack.
However, the two accused in the assault are facing a lengthy list of charges, including assault with a weapon and administering a noxious substance.
