Teenager Arrested After Stabbing of Elderly Woman in Pickering

A 14-year-old boy has been taken into custody following what police have described as a “sadistic and cowardly” stabbing that resulted in the death of a woman in Pickering, Ont., on Thursday.

Durham Regional Police reported that the boy was arrested without any trouble on Thursday night, approximately three hours after an emergency alert was issued advising nearby residents to stay indoors while officers searched for a suspect. Charges are forthcoming, they stated.

The alert has since been lifted and there is no longer a threat to the public, police Chief Peter Moreira informed reporters on Thursday night.

“I want to thank the members of our community for sheltering in place and doing exactly what we asked them to do,” Moreira said.

Initially, police indicated that the boy was 13 years old but later corrected his age in an email to CBC Toronto on Friday.

‘An unthinkable tragedy’: police chief

According to police, an elderly woman was approached by a male she did not know outside her home on Lynn Heights Drive near Fairport Road at about 3 p. m. on Thursday.

“After a brief interaction, the suspect stabbed the female in a sadistic and cowardly unprovoked attack that was captured on video,” Moreira stated.

In a later news release, police mentioned that a passerby discovered the woman on the ground with traumatic injuries. She was quickly taken to a trauma center in Toronto, where she succumbed to her injuries. Police have not disclosed the victim’s age.

Through video footage, authorities learned that the woman had been stabbed multiple times. The suspect fled on foot toward nearby woods before police arrived, they noted.

Durham police informed the public about this homicide via their social media channels.

Then at around 5:40 p. m., Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) sent out an emergency alert for Durham police, stating officers were looking for a homicide suspect near Lynn Heights Drive and advising residents in the area to keep up with media updates.

Durham Regional Police issued this emergency alert at about 5:40 p. m. on Thursday. (CBC)

Moreira explained that while the alert targeted residents near Lynn Heights Drive and Fairport Road, it’s OPP protocol to extend alerts beyond requested areas for public safety if there’s potential for continued danger from the suspect fleeing.

The authorities conducted an extensive search of the vicinity using helicopters, canine units, tactical support along with assistance from Toronto police and Ontario Provincial Police before apprehending the boy at 8:30 p. m.

“To the family of the victim, our heart goes out to you. This is an unthinkable tragedy that should not have happened,” Moreira remarked.

‘We’ve never seen anything like this’: resident

Moreira shared that investigators still don’t understand what motivated this act. The woman was “doing nothing but whatever one would do in front of their own home,” he said. He described this violent incident as “unimaginable.”

“She is not responsible at all for what has happened to her,” he added.

Resident Tyler Dunstan, who has lived there since 2010, said he returned home around 3:30 p. m. only to find several police cars nearby and asked one officer what had occurred.

Dunstan mentioned he recognized the victim from previous encounters.

“You always see her outside kind of gardening or walking around.. The whole neighborhood is like that; just a lot of friendly people out and about.”

Tyler Dunstan, who has lived in the area since 2010, says: ‘We’ve never seen anything like this.’ (Michael Cole/CBC)

Dunstan called news of this incident “terrifying.”

“We’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.

City of Pickering Closed All Public Facilities

In response to these events, Pickering city officials decided to close all public facilities including community centers and libraries until further notice.

Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe stated that his city’s chief administrative officer along with communications teams made these closure decisions without him being present but he supported their choice.

“It was prudent,” Mayor Ashe told reporters during Thursday night’s briefing.

He added it felt “a bit unnerving” at recreation centers where parents were unable to enter through front doors; “however people acted respectfully understanding how extraordinary this event is.”

Ashe described Thursday as “shocking” for everyone involved.

“We are considered very safe here so when incidents occur like these it impacts us collectively,” he mentioned.

“Hopefully we can move past such tragic events soon enough; I extend my deepest condolences from all Pickering residents towards victims’ families,” Ashe concluded.

“When one part suffers within our community we all share pain together; I keep thoughts & prayers close towards those facing horrific moments due resulting senseless violence.”

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