Armed ex-student charged over hostages

REGINA, Saskatchewan, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A 16-year-old student expelled from a private Christian high school in Regina, Saskatchewan, was charged with an armed hostage taking at the school.

Regina police said that Tuesday morning a male entered the Luther College High School gymnasium where some 450 students were attending religious services.

Police Chief Troy Hagen told the Regina Leader-Post a 911 call was received at approximately 10:20 a.m. reporting a male youth had pulled out a firearm.

The youth gave the chaplain a four-page letter of grievances he demanded be read aloud, and the chaplain complied. As he was doing so, Principal Mark Anderson edged toward the youth, the newspaper said.

Anderson said he realized it was only a pellet gun.

"We wrestled over it for a couple seconds and at that point, the SWAT (team) came in and took control of the situation and handled it very well," Anderson told the Leader-Post.

The teenager was charged with two counts of pointing a firearm and one count each of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, uttering threats and forcible confinement, police said.