Six youth aged 14 to 17 have been arrested after a bear spray attack on Victoria Avenue East in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on the evening of June 29, 2026, police say. Officers were called to the area just before 9:30 p.m. after reports of people using bear spray. Two victims were hurt, with one needing hospital care.
The Thunder Bay Police Service says officers found two victims at the scene. Both got help from emergency services, and one person was taken to a local hospital for more treatment.
Police say the suspects had already run off before officers arrived. A search of the area led to all six youth being found and arrested. Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, their names cannot be made public.
One 17-year-old from Thunder Bay faces the most serious charges, including two counts of assault with a weapon, possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, pointing a firearm, and failing to comply with an undertaking. A second 17-year-old, who faces two counts of assault with a weapon, was released from custody with a future court date.
The other five accused were held in custody after their first court appearances. All six youth face two counts of assault with a weapon.
Thunder Bay’s Crime Severity Index remains higher than both provincial and national averages, even as youth crime rates have dropped in recent years. The Victoria Avenue East area is in the Northwood neighbourhood, a part of the city where public safety has been talked about before.
