Law & Home Affairs Minister: Axe in RVHS Might Have Been Bought Online

One of the worst ordeals a parent can go through is the loss of a child, especially when they’re young.

That kind of grief, at having someone you raised from birth perish so young, is something you never get over.

Sadly, that’s exactly what parents of a Secondary 1 student at River Valley High School are going through now.

Yesterday (19 July), their 13-year-old child was attacked by a 16-year-old student in a bathroom at the school, and the young teen ended up succumbing to his injuries.

An axe was later seized by police at the scene, and it now seems that the axe may have been purchased online.

Law & Home Affairs Minister: Axe in RVHS Might Have Been Bought Online

The axe seized by officers after the deadly assault may have been purchased online, Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said in a Facebook post.

“There are questions being asked about how the boy got an axe. Preliminary investigations suggests that he purchased it online,” he wrote.

“But we will know the full facts only after investigations are completed.”

Mr Shanmugam described the incident as “one of the worst things that can happen to a parent”.

“It’s completely shocking because safety is assumed and normally (in Singapore anyway) assured,” he said.

“We all grieve with the parents of the boy who was killed. It’s difficult to even describe the true extent of their grief.”

What Happened

The incident took place yesterday afternoon in a bathroom on the fourth floor of the school.

It’s unknown what provoked the incident, but the 16-year-old attacked the 13-year-old victim there, causing injuries that would eventually lead to his death.

The police said they received a call for assistance at around 11.40am. When officers arrived at the scene, the found the 13-year-old victim lying motionless in the bathroom.

He had sustained multiple wounds and was pronounced dead by a paramedic.

Early police investigations revealed that the two teens did not know each other.

The 16-year-old was charged today with murder, and will be remanded at Changi Medical Centre for psychiatric observation.

He cannot be named as he is under 18 years of age.

According to TODAYonline, he was previously a patient at the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and had attempted suicide in 2019.

At the time, he was taken into custody and referred to IMH to have his mental health assessed. He was eventually discharged.

The Sec 4 student reportedly looked emotionless, tired, and disheveled during his hearing which took place via video link.

He will return to court on 10 Aug.

Since he’s under 18, the offender cannot be sentenced to death. He can, however, be given life imprisonment if found guilty of murder.
If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health issues, here are some helplines you can call:

Samaritans of Singapore: 1800 221-4444 (24 hours)

Institute of Mental Health: 6389-2222 (24 hours)

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800 283-7019 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm)

National Care Hotline: 1800-202-6868 (8am-12am)

Brahm Centre Assistline: 6655-0000 (Mon to Fri, 9am to 6pm)

Care Corner Counselling Centre: 1800-353-5800

Image: Facebook (Shin Min Daily News 新明日报) ; Google Maps