Suspect charged after 97-year-old woman assaulted: Winnipeg police
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.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Italy's white-collar mafia is making a business killing
Italy's mafia rarely dirties its hands with blood these days. Extortion rackets have gone out of fashion and murders are largely frowned upon by the godfathers.
Spike in 'violent rhetoric' since Oct. 7 attack from 'extremist actors,' CSIS warns
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 'violent rhetoric' from 'extremist actors' that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
Russia announces nuclear weapon drills after angry exchange with senior Western officials
Russia plans to hold drills simulating the use of battlefield nuclear weapons, the Defense Ministry announced Monday, days after the Kremlin reacted angrily to comments by senior Western officials about the war in Ukraine and Moscow warned that tensions with the West are deepening.
Summer forecast: What to expect as El Nino weakens
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.