The woman who called first responders following a shooting in a North Bay schoolyard early Wednesday morning — alerting police and paramedics to the scene — undoubtedly played a significant role in helping the victim to the hospital alive.
She bristled at the suggestion that she was a hero, saying she wanted no part of that sort of talk, then asked not to be identified.
"I just hope that boy makes it," she told BayToday on Wednesday morning as the dust settled over the violent incident within sight and earshot of at least a dozen Birchwood Village townhomes, many with children.
She said the group of four, three male and one female, all in their late teens or early 20s, arrived around 2 a.m. The witness said she could both see and hear them as they shouted and played music from a device. She said it is not uncommon for people to congregate in the schoolyard at all hours of the night, often in an intoxicated state.
A dispute between two of the late-night visitors escalated to verbal threats. The witness said she looked out the window, turned her head, heard a pop and when she looked back outside, the victim was on the ground. After making the call to 911, she ran to the schoolyard but all four of the group remained. She was concerned about where the gun was. The victim lay writhing in pain on the ground. The other three argued about what to do.
Although the accused shooter eventually decided to run, the police arrived in time to apprehend him a short distance from the scene and he was arrested. A 21-year-old North Bay man is in custody.
District of Nipissing Paramedic Services personnel followed right behind NBPS. The 19-year-old male victim was found with a gunshot wound to his abdomen. As of Wednesday morning, the victim was in the hospital in serious condition.
See: 21-year-old arrested in overnight schoolyard shooting
The North Bay Police Service advises there is a heavy police presence in the area of Holy Cross today. Evidence identification markers, used to mark items of evidence at a crime scene, dot the parking lot this morning, They are used to reveal evidence that may not be seen in photographs. Police tape restricts access to the scene.
At this time, it is suspected that the accused and victim are known to each other, and have no association to the school.
Police say there is no risk to public safety.
The North Bay Police Service’s Criminal Investigations Unit is continuing to investigate and is requesting information from anyone who may have been in the area, or who has dashcam footage or video surveillance of the area. If you have any information call 705-497-5555.
