Man wanted in Sudbury robbery charged in 'random and isolated' stabbing attack downtown
A Greater Sudbury woman is upset about the charges laid against the man accused of attacking her son and a group of his colleagues downtown on Saturday.
Crystal Richer told CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca in a phone interview Monday her son suffered a severed artery and punctured lung after being stabbed on Larch Street at Minto Street, just steps from police headquarters.
He and his boss had taken out a few new employees from out of the country to show them the city's nightlife when they were attacked around 2:30 a.m. Oct. 12, Richer said.
"No words were exchanged," she said, stating the attacker "came out of nowhere."
She credits her son's coworker with saving her son's life.
"If it wasn't for his coworker stuffing his wound with his t-shirt, he wouldn't have made it," Richer said.
"If it wasn't for him, my son would be dead."
- Download the CTV News app now
- Get local breaking news alerts
- Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox
The 29-year-old male victim was taken to hospital for emergency surgery.
His wife and family were called in to say their final goodbyes just in case he didn't make it, his mom said.
Between the stabbing and surgery, Richer said he lost a lot of blood and was in an induced coma for a while.
Charges questioned
Officers took his statement at the hospital and his mom said he had to sign off on the charges while in recovery and under medication.
She said her son doesn't agree with the aggravated assault charge and that she doesn’t understand why the accused isn't charged with attempted murder.
"He had every intention of hurting someone," Richer said.
"You don't come out with a knife and don't expect that they won't die."
Det. Const. Steven Bradley, of Greater Sudbury Police Service, told CTV News in a phone interview Monday it was a "random and isolated" incident.
While the victim and accused were not known to each other, Bradley said there is no concern for public safety following the stabbing.
The suspect was identified as a 35-year-old male, who was located by patrol officers on the day of the stabbing.
It turns out he was also wanted in a robbery that happened in the city on Oct. 4, Bradley would not say where the robbery happened.
In addition to the robbery charge, he is also now charged with aggravated assault, four counts of assault with a weapon and having a weapon for a dangerous purpose.
Bradley said the accused is not from Sudbury.
The suspect has been remanded following a bail court appearance.
He is scheduled to appear again in court Tuesday.
Discharged from hospital
Because there were no beds available, the victim's mother said the hospital sent her son to recover at his Capreol home just four hours after the tube was removed from his chest.
Richer said her son is having a hard time sleeping due to the pain from his injuries.
She said his hand is swollen due to multiple blood transfusions and he is still numb on his right side.
The ordeal was also very traumatizing for her son's colleagues, she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Alberta Premier Smith gets 91 per cent support in leadership review
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith received a dominating 91.5 per cent vote of support from her United Conservative Party members in a scheduled leadership review vote on Saturday.
'It’s a dream come true’: Holt, Liberal cabinet sworn-in to office
Susan Holt, the province’s first female premier, and 18 cabinet ministers took the oath of office in the chamber of the legislative assembly.
Vancouver quietly proclaimed Chip Wilson Day as billionaire installed sign calling B.C. NDP 'communist'
On the same day Chip Wilson erected a controversial sign at his Vancouver mansion, the city was quietly honouring the billionaire and his wife.
Here's what you can buy for $729,000 in 8 Ottawa neighbourhoods
CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at what you can buy for the average Ottawa home price of $729,000 in eight Ottawa neighbourhoods.
Florida's convicted killer clown released from prison for the murder of her husband's then-wife
A woman who pleaded guilty to dressing as a clown and in 1990 murdering the wife of a man she later married was released from prison on Saturday.
Calgary police issue warning after receiving over 150 calls relating to personal fireworks
Calgary police issued a media statement Saturday reminding residents about the rules regarding personal fireworks after receiving over 150 complaints.
The impact of Trump's lies in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio was once a manufacturing hub. Now, people know it for Trump's comments at September's presidential debate, when he famously - and falsely - told an audience of 67 million people that Haitians eat their pets, echoing claims that had circulated on social media.
India trashes Canada for linking home minister to Sikh activist plot
India officially protested on Saturday the Canadian government's allegation that the country's powerful home minister Amit Shah had ordered the targeting of Sikh activists inside Canada, calling it 'absurd and baseless.'
Local sheriff asks FBI to investigate death of Black man found hanging in Alabama
The FBI is investigating the death of a Black man in Alabama, who was found hanging in an abandoned house, following a request from a local sheriff amid fears among community members who accuse local law enforcement of longstanding, unchecked misconduct.