Shocking the whole country!
On Thursday afternoon, a brutal and heinous crime occurred in a quiet community in Pickering, Durham Region. An 80-year-old retired kindergarten teacher was stabbed to death outside her front door by an unidentified male. The suspect is a 14-year-old boy. This sudden tragedy not only shocked the entire nation but also triggered a large-scale police search and prompted the police to issue an emergency "shelter-in-place" alert.
Credit: CTV News Toronto Chopper
"Extremely Brutal":
14-Year-Old Suspect Charged with First-Degree Murder
According to Durham Regional Police reports, the incident occurred around 3:00 PM on May 29th, outside a residence at 2125 Lynn Heights Drive (east of Fairport Road and north of Finch Avenue). The victim was standing outside her front door when an unknown man approached and stabbed her several times. Passersby discovered the injured woman, and paramedics transported her to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
Credit: Google
This sudden random killing forced the police to take "unconventional measures," activating the province-wide "Alert Ready" emergency alert system at 5:39 PM. Although the "shelter-in-place" order only applied to the incident area, mobile phone users throughout the Greater Toronto Area all received the alert, creating an unprecedented scene and tense atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the City of Pickering announced the immediate closure of all public facilities, canceling all courses and activities until further notice.
According to police reports, the suspect fled eastward after the attack and went into hiding in the area, possibly carrying weapons. Police quickly sealed off the surrounding area, mobilized large-scale forces, and deployed helicopters, drones, and police dogs to assist in the search.
The suspect is described as a brown-skinned male wearing a surgical mask, a black long windbreaker, and carrying a black bag.
Credit: 51 netizens
At around 8:30 PM, police arrested a 14-year-old suspect. The teenager is also a resident of Pickering and has been charged with first-degree murder. According to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, his identity cannot be disclosed.
Durham Regional Police Chief Peter Moreira confirmed at the press conference that night that the arrest process had no incidents, and the police are conducting further investigations. It is currently unclear whether the victim and the suspect knew each other or had any relationship.
Moreira solemnly stated: "This is an extremely cruel, cowardly, and unwarranted attack, and the entire process was captured on surveillance footage. I have worked in the homicide unit for many years, but I have never seen such an unbelievable act of gratuitous violence."
Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe expressed during an interview at the scene: "I am very shocked that a child so young could do something so cruel." He suspects that the teenager may have mental health issues and frankly states that this arrest is "extremely unsettling," saying that "his life may be completely rewritten."
Multiple neighbors witnessed the suspect
Wielding a knife near a house days before
In the aftermath, multiple neighbors told The Star about the strange happenings during the incident.
A neighbor who wished to remain anonymous recalled: "I saw a school bus turn into the alley and quickly leave, which made me feel something was wrong. Soon, the entire block was cordoned off by police cars, with yellow warning lines blocking entrances and exits, preventing anyone from coming in or out."
The resident added that the area is surrounded by woods, valleys, and trees, always peaceful and tranquil. "We have never experienced anything like this before."
Credit: CP24
A female neighbor who wished to remain anonymous said that she saw a man matching the description passing through the vicinity near the crime scene around 2:45 PM on the day of the incident.
"He greeted me and walked away. I found it odd at the time," the lady said.
After returning home, she received the "shelter-in-place" alert from the police and immediately recognized the suspect's photo online. She exclaimed: "My God, that’s him! I’m absolutely sure!" She said she still feels uneasy to this day.
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What’s even more chilling is that netizens discovered a surveillance video from early morning on May 25th, showing what appears to be the same teenager waving a knife in front of a house, sending chills down everyone’s spines.
Credit: X
"She Was a Very Good Person":
The Victim Was Tending Flowers Outside Her Door When the Incident Occurred
Neighbors confirmed that the victim was an 80-year-old retired kindergarten teacher named Eleanor, who lived with her husband. At the time of the incident, she was tending to the flowers in her front yard.
Neighbor Serrao-Fredericks described the victim as "an excellent person" who had lived in the area for decades.
"It’s heartbreaking," Serrao-Fredericks said. "She was taking care of her sick husband, and life was already difficult for her."
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She also recalled that shortly before the incident, both she and her daughter noticed a stranger wearing black gloves and a windbreaker, dressed strangely, wandering around the neighborhood.
"He stood out," she said. "It’s unusual to see someone dressed like that at 2:30 PM."
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Serrao-Fredericks admitted that this tragedy has left her family in fear.
"I spend most of my time gardening in the front yard. How can I dare step outside now?"
"Canada Has Collapsed":
Netizens Worry That the Suspect Will Be Released Soon!
Many netizens expressed deep concerns about the case's development on social media:
"Random killings are the scariest! It makes everyone live in constant fear."
"There’s a high possibility that he will eventually be acquitted due to mental illness and return home after some time. If he is acquitted and returns home, Canada will become very dangerous! Robberies (of shops, etc.) will increase because murderers can go home. What else do they have to fear?"
"This case already shows that Canada has collapsed. Friends, it seems this country is becoming a place full of chaos. Let’s leave soon!"
"Wearing masks doesn’t mean being mentally ill anymore! Don’t let this scoundrel escape."
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7510358436853563914/
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