Boy, 14, hospitalized after alleged stabbing at Barrie park

Police officers are investigating reports a young teen was stabbed at a park in Barrie Tuesday evening.

According to the authorities, a 14-year-old boy was assaulted by a man at Sunnidale Park shortly after 5 p.m.

Officers, detectives and the K9 unit searched the area for a suspect but were unsuccessful.

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CTV News reached out to the mother of the injured teen and learned the boy was on his way to meet friends at the park at the time of the incident.

She said a man approached him and started yelling, prompting the teen to run as the man gave chase, stabbing the teen in the back.

"We are currently looking for a suspect," said Peter Leon, Barrie Police Services corporate communications coordinator.

Police say the suspect is a white man, 30 to 35 years old, five feet six inches to five feet nine inches tall, with a medium build, brown eyes and short brown hair - a buzz cut that has grown out.

They say the unprovoked incident happened on a walking path near the Sunnidale Dog Park off Coulter Street.

"We believe this is isolated and random," Leon added.

The teen was rushed to the hospital and then transferred to SickKids Hospital in Toronto for further treatment. He is listed in stable condition.

Mayor Alex Nuttall issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon saying he had met with the family and "they are handling this as well as they can, given the circumstances."

In his statement, the Barrie mayor assured residents that safety is council's priority.

"I, like many, want answers to how this could happen and why," he noted, adding, "But we must let Barrie Police Service conclude their investigation before taking next steps."

Police encourage anyone with information to contact the authorities.