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An elderly woman on her way to catch a bus on 82 Avenue last Sunday was stabbed after wishing her assailant a ‘good day,’ say police who have now charged a man.
Police on Friday said the man is charged with assault with a weapon, aggravated assault, obstructing a peace officer, two counts of breach of a release order, and possession of an offensive weapon.
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The woman was on her way to catch the bus Sept 10 when she said ‘good day’ to the man, police spokeswoman Cheryl Sheppard said on Friday.
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Police said the man was impaired by drugs when he stabbed the woman without provocation. The victim was transported to hospital for treatment and has since been released.
Antonio Alex Shirt, 20, is facing multiple charges.
Earlier this week, the Alberta government promised to crack down on violent crime by changing guidelines for Crown prosecutors. Edmonton police have said that violent crime grew by 13 per cent between 2021 and 2022.
On Monday, United Conservative Justice Minister Mickey Amery, at a news conference alongside Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, police Chief Dale McFee and Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis, said everyone should feel safe taking transit or going about their business in their communities.
Edmonton has seen a surge of violence this summer, including a fatal stabbing at Belvedere LRT station, the violent deaths of a mother and her 11-year-old child outside a southeast school, and a violent clash between two groups that prompted the first reading of the city’s riot act this century.
After the changes for Crown prosecutors was announced, however, the head of the provincial prosecutor’s association said one of the government’s new policies won’t change much, while another could have unintended consequences.