Written by senior Chronicle reporting staff
An 18-year-old Durham College student charged with uttering threats was released to a surety after a bail hearing on Friday, according to the Ontario Court of Justice in Oshawa.
The charges were in relation to a “desire to initiate a shooting at a school in Oshawa,” according to Durham Regional Police Services (DRPS).
The student, identified by police as Jhusmin Pagkaliwagan, was arrested Thursday without incident.
“Uttering threats,” is an indictable offence punishable by up to five years in prison, per the Canadian Criminal Code.
Authorities reportedly seized 18 firearms, five airsoft guns and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition after searching through the suspect’s residence.
DRPS acted on a tip from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which intercepted “a concerning Snapchat message,” according to a DRPS news release.
The police worked closely with Durham College’s Office of Campus Safety to make the arrest.
“Charges have been laid, and the individual is no longer a student at the college and has been trespassed from the campus,” said the Office of Campus Safety in an email to students on Friday.
Police said the weapons found in the home of the suspect are legally owned and obtained. It is unclear if Pagkaliwagan could access the weapons before making the threats.
The Office of Campus Safety added that, “DC is committed to the safety of everyone in our campus community. We take all matters of campus safety very seriously, act swiftly, and work closely with law enforcement partners when needed.”
In a separate statement Monday afternoon, the college addressed the incident: “DC is very concerned about the incident and is grateful that the processes that our law enforcement teams and our Office of Campus Safety have in place prioritize the safety of our campus community.”
The college also acknowledged the impact the incident might have on students and staff: “We recognize that hearing news of this nature can make DC students and employees uneasy and concerned. To reinforce Durham College’s (DC) commitment to prioritizing the safety and well-being of our campus community, all students and employees received an email today offering well-being support services and reminding them of the many safety supports available on campus.”
When asked for further comment, Durham Regional Police referred The Chronicle to the media release issued Friday.
The incident prompted a mixed reaction from students on campus, with some students expressing concern, while others said they still felt safe.
“I was in shock,” said an 18-year-old student in pre-health science. “How did she get so many firearms?”
Campus safety has been a concern in the past.
In September 2023, an 18-year-old man was arrested after stabbing a student on the Whitby Campus. A lockdown was initiated and lifted by police shortly after. The victim was sent to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
In 2015, former student Brian Akibo-Betts triggered a lockdown at the Oshawa campus by carrying an imitation machine gun. He was arrested and the incident triggered a campus-wide lockdown.
In 2014, a 21-year-old man was charged in connection to a kidnapping incident that caused a lockdown at Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT). Authorities received reports that the man was armed, prompting a lockdown as a safety measure. The suspect was arrested at a Scarborough motel that night and was charged with multiple offences, including kidnapping and possession of a weapon.
In the case of an emergency, Durham College provides services to support students, including several “Code Blue” Stations, which give students immediate contact with the main security office.
These stations also allow emergency services to be contacted when necessary.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include additional comments from Durham College.