Police, mother concerned for stabbing victim’s well-being

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This article was published 28/04/2023 (915 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The stabbing of a 12-year-old girl at a late-night party has prompted concerns from Winnipeg police and a community advocate, given the nature of the violence and ages of those involved.

Police allege a 13-year-old girl was armed with a knife and a 38-year-old woman was wielding an imitation gun when the victim was stabbed at a North End home at about 1:45 a.m. Tuesday.

“What’s concerning to me and to the police is that the youth who committed the assault was with an adult who was in possession of a weapon,” Winnipeg police spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said Thursday.

McKinnon also expressed concerns about a group of children that age having a party at almost 2 a.m. while seemingly unsupervised.

Uninvited teen guest returned with knife: mother

The stabbing happened at a home on the 500 block of Flora Avenue after a 13-year-old party-goer was kicked out, police said.

The teen allegedly returned with the woman, with the pair accused of forcing their way into the home and confronting the people inside.

A mother whose 12-year-old daughter attended the gathering said the incident began while children had a backyard bonfire.

Her daughter told her a fight broke out after girls showed up uninvited.

The girl who returned allegedly had a knife with a long blade, and the woman allegedly pointed a gun at the children, who thought the firearm was genuine, said the mother.

She was told the adult suspect is not the teenage suspect’s mother.

Police wouldn’t describe the suspects’ relationship.

Stabbing victim released from hospital

The stabbing victim, who had injuries to her stomach and leg, has been released from hospital, said the mother.

Her daughter is in the child welfare system, has a nightly curfew at the residence where she is staying temporarily, and is waiting for a school placement.

The mother was shocked and concerned about her child’s well-being when she found out about the incident.

“I’m thankful she wasn’t hurt, but things could’ve ended differently.”

After the stabbing, other party-goers were driven by child welfare workers to the places they were supposed to be, according to the mother.

The party shouldn’t have happened, and she has contacted Child and Family Services about the incident, she said.

The 13-year-old girl and 38-year-old woman were charged with break and enter, aggravated assault and other offences. They were both released on an undertaking, as per the Criminal Code, police said.

‘Another concerning flag’

Community advocate Mitch Bourbonniere expressed concerns about young children being up late, the level of violence and the alleged involvement of an adult.

“My heart goes out to the victim and the kids involved in this trauma, and even the (suspects),” he said. “This is another concerning flag.”

For Bourbonniere, the incident raises questions about whether people’s needs are being met.

“It’s about supports — who’s noticing, who’s paying attention, who’s doing prevention?”

CFS cannot comment on specific cases nor on any child’s current involvement with the authority, according to a spokesman.

Restorative justice can be an option when youth are accused of a crime, Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said.

In this case, the allegations are serious and the suspect will go to the courts.

“This is something that’s a little bit more grave. It’s an offence with a weapon where somebody was injured,” Chancy said.

Winnipeg police reported a year-to-year decline in the number of youth suspects who were charged, arrested and not charged, or warned for violent crimes between 2016 and 2021.

According to the 2021 annual report, the 352 youth who were charged represented 15 per cent of all suspects in violent crimes.

— with files from Tyler Searle and Maggie Macintosh

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching