Ten people are facing charges in connection with a string of armed robberies in Toronto, including one at a west-end
high school in which a student barely escaped being shot.

Toronto police say robbery-related charges have been laid in 21 separate incidents, including Thursday's robbery and shooting at Thistletown Collegiate.

Staff Inspector Mike Earl says the 10 were arrested Thursday and Friday and are to appear in court on Saturday.

Police say the 21 robberies, many of which targeted convenience stores and gas stations, took place in west Toronto, Peel Region
and York Region starting in early January.

Earl says the suspects were armed with a handgun or a shotgun - or both - and that the violence escalated to pistol-whipping a
victim and on Thursday, to firing a shot at a high school.

Earl says police believe the suspect responsible for the school shooting is in custody but the investigation is continuing and there
may be more arrests.