A 19-year-old man and a male youth have been arrested and charged in relation to an attempted murder and aggravated assault that police said took place Monday night and Tuesday morning.

Police first responded to an alley for a disturbance behind the permanently closed First Avenue Public School, at 85 First Ave. between Kingscourt Avenue and Nelson Street, at about 5:20 p.m. Witnesses had found the first beaten young adult in the alley, Det. Sgt Jay Finn said.

The accused had fled the area before police arrived and the victim was taken to hospital, where he remains in critical condition.

The victim knew some of the suspects, but the incident and what exactly occurred still remains under investigation, Finn said.

“It was not a random act of violence,” Finn said.

The two accused then lay low for more than eight hours. On Tuesday morning at about 2 a.m., the pair entered a townhouse on Newmarket Lane and violently assaulted another young adult male, police said. Witnesses of the attack in the residence called 911 and the victim was taken to hospital. Finn said the victim was treated and later released.

For most of Tuesday police were actively searching for 19-year-old Josh Owen Simpson and the 17-year-old youth, both of Kingston, on two counts of aggravated assault, robbery and attempted murder.

In a news release, police said that information from social media led them to the area of John Counter Boulevard and Montreal Street on Tuesday. There, at about 2:45 p.m., officers located the teen and, after a foot pursuit, he was arrested in the area.

At approximately 5:05 p.m. Simpson was located by patrol officers on Bagot Street near James Street. Simpson did not run or resist arrest, said Finn.

Both Simpson and the youth have had prior involvement with police.

“[Motivation] is still under investigation,” Finn said. “We know that the victims and the suspects were known to each other.”

Weapons were used in both attacks, Finn said.

On Tuesday, police were still investigating at both crime scenes.

Anyone with information about the attacks is asked to contact Finn at 613-549-4660, ext. 6228, or via email at jfinn@kingstonpolice.ca.

Tips can also be provided anonymously by calling Kingston Police’s general number at 613-549-4660, ext. 0, and asking to be anonymous or by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

scrosier@postmedia.com

Twitter: @StephattheWhig