Victim in northeast Edmonton stabbings died a hero, family member says
Suspect knew one of the three victims in Wednesday attacks, police say
A 38-year-old man stabbed to death in a northeast Edmonton intersection Wednesday was a hero who died protecting his sister, a relative says.
Police said Thursday that two women, ages 32 and 41, suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries after being stabbed by a 25-year-old man in the Homesteader neighbourhood.
The dead man has been identified by family as Brian Berland, from Cold Lake First Nations in northeastern Alberta.
Berland, who was in Edmonton to visit family, was walking with his sister and her dog when he was attacked, his brother-in-law Allen Frost said.
"Brian Berland is a hero. My wife Jamie and Brian were out walking our puppy and the attacker came out of the nearby bushes and started to stab Brian," Frost said in a Facebook message Thursday to The Canadian Press.
"Brian yelled to Jamie to run. As she was running away, she dropped our puppy's leash and he took off as well and is still missing."
Frost said his wife wasn't physically harmed.
At a vigil Thursday night, Berland's niece, Shaelynn Berland, said it was nice to see people come out to support her family.
"It helps a bit knowing that so many people loved him and cared about him just as much as I do. I love all the support that's going on right now, just to feel like you're not alone in these grieving times," she told reporters Thursday.
Patrick Balser, a longtime family friend, said it is heartbreaking to lose a friend in such a way.
"This morning, it broke me. It finally hit me that I just lost a friend, I just lost a family member that I loved very much, that I could go and talk to and he could come and talk to me," he said.
Suspect knew one of the victims
Police said they fielded calls from several people around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday who said three people had been stabbed in the area of Hermitage Road and Henry Avenue.
Responding officers found three victims. The man was already dead. The women were treated on scene before being taken to hospital.
Police said the 32-year-old woman was stabbed by a man who approached her at a bus stop. The 41-year-old woman was stabbed moments later in a tent nearby, police said.
Police believe the suspect, who was arrested Wednesday evening, knew one of the victims, acting Supt. Brent Dahlseide said Thursday afternoon. But he didn't know how they knew each other, nor for how long they knew each other.
Berland was then stabbed multiple times in the intersection of Hermitage Road and Henry Avenue.
"These incidents appear to be unprovoked," police said.
During the police search of the Homesteader neighbourhood, some businesses, daycare centres and schools were put into lockdown for safety.
Just before 6 p.m., officers found the suspect on foot in the area of 50th Street and 122nd Avenue, about two kilometres away from the crime scene, and took him into custody.
On Wednesday, EPS identified the suspect as Clarence Lawrence.
But on Thursday, police said they will confirm the suspect's name after charges have been laid.
Lawrence was taken to hospital following his arrest for a mental and physical health assessment.
"I can't speculate on mental health state, whether this is a drug-induced something, or alcohol," Dahlseide said, adding that homicide detectives delayed interviewing Lawrence until Thursday.
Police chief, mayor offer condolences
Police Chief Dale McFee said Wednesday on Twitter that many in the community were left shaken after the attacks.
"My condolences to the family of the victim, and my prayers to those injured," he wrote.
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi also took to Twitter to thank the police "for their hard work in keeping Edmontonians safe and informed."
Sohi said he was "heartbroken" to learn that one person had died and two others injured.
"My thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy."
With files from CBC Edmonton