

Chris Fox, cp24.com





A law student at York University has been charged in connection with a weekend shooting on campus.

Police allege the suspect fired a shotgun at the door of a dormitory on Assiniboine Road at around 6:45 a.m. Saturday.

Police believe the suspect is also responsible for several incidents in which the same door was tampered with in recent weeks.

"The first couple of times the victim reported to York University housing that she had something wrong with her door," Det. Sgt. Al Coulter told an afternoon news conference. "It didn't raise any concerns to anybody at the time. This is a university residence and students will be students. It wasn't until the occurrence of the shotgun blast that we put this all together."

Police have seized two weapons belonging to the suspect, including a 12-gauge shotgun and are making arrangements to seize a third weapon that is currently out of province.

The relationship between the victim and the suspect is unclear.

"We have no connection at this time but that is part of our ongoing investigation," Coulter said. "The victim has been in that residence since 2008 and does not know of anybody that would want to cause her any harm whatsoever."

York University's security and housing departments assisted police with their investigation.

"It is deeply concerning to all of us that the alleged suspect, a member of our student community, has so seriously compromised the safety of everyone at York," York University Vice-President Finance and Administration Gary Brewer said at the press conference.

"I want to assure everyone that the safety and well-being of all our community members is paramount."

Andrew MacDonald, 35, is charged with three counts of mischief, two counts of attempted break-and-enter, careless use of a firearm, weapons dangerous, contravention of storage regulations and possession of burglar tools.



