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Blaff said that Minassian was quiet and kept to himself and was never violent.

Ari Blaff, who went to high school with Minassian at Thornlea Secondary School north of Toronto, said he was “in disbelief” when he saw that Minassian was accused of carrying out the attack.

“We thought it was just strange behavior from a guy in high school,” Blaff said.

“He was a loner and had few friends,” Mr. Blaff said.

“He was an odd guy, and hardly mixed with other students,” said Ari Blaff, a former high school classmate who is now a graduate student in international relations at the University of Toronto.