Calgary police charge 16-year-old with trying to hire someone to commit a murder

Calgary police have charged a 16-year-old after a person reported that the youth had tried to hire them to murder someone.

The complainant reported to police on May 13 that a youth asked them to murder another youth in exchange for payment, police said in a release on Wednesday.

After a six-week investigation, police arrested the 16-year-old on Tuesday.

The youth cannot be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

"This is a very serious and disturbing incident," said Staff Sgt. Colin Chisholm with the general investigations unit. 

"We are thankful police were notified and could investigate before anything tragic happened. As a service, our priority is to ensure public safety of all Calgarians."

Charges against the youth include counsel to commit murder, breach of a court order and possession of marijuana.