Two people have died, including the suspect, and multiple people have been transported to hospital, including an RCMP officer, following a mass stabbing at a Manitoba First Nation Thursday morning.
Manitoba RCMP confirmed Thursday morning that multiple people were stabbed in the community of Hollow Water First Nation. Six victims have been taken to hospital, and one person has died.
“What happened early this morning is a tragedy for the community of Hollow Water First Nation, and all of Manitoba,” said Assistant Commissioner Scott McMurchy, commanding officer of RCMP’s “D” Division.
“My thoughts are with everyone who was affected by this senseless act of violence.”
Superintendent Rob Lasson with the RCMP’s Major Crimes Services said officers were called at 3:45 a.m. for a report of an assault in the community and the suspect fled the scene.
At 5:53 a.m., RCMP received a call about a possible stabbing in Hollow Water First Nation, and multiple detachments responded. When they arrived, officers found two homes where multiple people were stabbed.
RCMP said eight victims ranging in age from 18 to 60 years old were found. An 18-year-old woman died from her injuries, Lasson confirmed.
The suspect was identified by RCMP as 26-year-old Tyrone Simard, and said the victim was his sister.
RCMP said Simard fled towards Black River First Nation in a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was involved in a crash with a RCMP cruiser at 6:53 a.m. that was driving to the scene.
Simard was killed on scene in the crash. The RCMP officer driving the vehicle was taken to hospital with critical, but non-life-threatening injuries.
The officer is currently recovering in hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
“Without any doubt, she put her life at risk for the safety and security of Manitobans,” McMurchy said.
An emotional Hollow Water First Nation Chief Larry Barker spoke at the press conference, and urged the community to pray and support each other.
“My deepest condolences to my community and every member that’s out there,” he said.
Mounties remain at scenes in the community as well as on Highway 304, just south of Black River First Nation. McMurchy said officers are travelling to each house in the community to ensure there are no victims.
RCMP said they will be conducting a thorough investigation of the incident.
The incident comes three years to the day of a mass stabbing on James Smith Cree Nation in Saskatchewan. RCMP said they believed the date is a coincidence.
‘The community is all shaken up’: Victim’s family
Speaking outside of the Health Sciences Centre adult emergency department, siblings Jordan Hamilton and Christy Williams said their father was among the victims.
“We just were informed that he was stabbed several times, but he got him in the lung, punctured his lung,” Hamilton said.
Williams said her father’s door was kicked in, and he was sleeping in his bed when he was stabbed in the back. He was also hit in the head with a bottle a couple of times.
She said a dispute took place with the victim and her father before he went to bed.
Williams said her father, who lived in a different residence than the other victims, is talking now and undergoing a CT scan.
“The community is all shaken up from it,” Williams said. “This is not something that happens in Hollow Water.”
-With files from CTV’s Joseph Bernacki
