Suspect charged after 97-year-old woman assaulted: Winnipeg police

A undated file image of a Winnipeg police car. (CTV News Winnipeg)

Winnipeg -

A vicious and unprovoked attack on a 97-year-old woman in downtown Winnipeg has left people in the area shocked and concerned.

Winnipeg police said the woman was kicked in the upper body around 4 p.m. on Oct. 4 outside a residential building in the 400 block of Webb Place.

The woman was taken to hospital in stable condition and the suspect has since been arrested and charged but that’s little comfort for some who live and work nearby.

More than a week after the assault people in the area, including Alma Flett, expressed sympathy and concern for the well-being of the 97-year-old victim.

“I’m really shocked and I don’t know what to say,” said Flett, who lives downtown. “I hope this elder will recover and I’ll pray for her whoever she is.”

Const. Claude Chancy said the woman was outside when she was kicked in the upper body. She didn’t know her attacker.

“This was actually a vicious attack,” Chancy said. “We have to remember this is a 97-year-old female. She was injured during the attack. It was unprovoked. She did suffer some injuries to her upper body.”

Bystanders alerted police about the attack. Sources told CTV Winnipeg she was kicked in the head.

Police said the 97-year-old woman was taken to hospital in stable condition where she received treatment.

Julie Thompson works in the area and while she isn’t worried about her own safety she is concerned about others given the unprovoked nature of the attack and the woman’s age.

“I mean not that it’s okay to attack anybody but the fact that there was no reason, and again the reason doesn’t make it any better but I’m concerned in the fact that someone just randomly thinks this is okay,” Thompson said.

A suspect was arrested Tuesday morning after being identified through surveillance footage and with help from witnesses who were present during the attack.

Rudy Wayne Elliott, 24, of Winnipeg has been charged with assault causing bodily harm and remains in custody.

Flett said she’s always avoided the area at night but this attack during broad daylight means she’ll be even more careful no matter what time of day.

“I feel scared sometimes, you know,” said Flett. “You don’t know what’s going to come to you.”

POLICE INVESTIGATING PAIR OF CARJACKINGS

Investigators are asking for the public’s help investigating a pair of carjackings that happened early Tuesday morning.

Police say at around 6:15 a.m., a man was parked in the 400 block of Hartford Avenue when a male suspect confronted him with a weapon.

Officers said the suspect drove away in the stolen vehicle.

The victim was not physically injured from the incident, police said.

At around 7 a.m. that same morning, police said a woman was parked in the 1400 block of Fife Street when she was pulled from the vehicle by a male suspect.

Officers said two other male suspects also got into the vehicle and pointed a weapon at her.

Police said the three drove off in the stolen vehicle.

The victim suffered minor injuries as a result of the incident.

WPS said it is not known if the two incidents are related.

Investigations into both carjackings are ongoing. The Major Crimes Unit asks anyone with information that might help investigators to call 204-986-6219 or Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477.