Mom of accused teen in mall machete attack worried about him several days ago Four boys, ages 13 and 14, slashed in incident at Polo Park police believe started over pair of running shoes By: Chris Kitching Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Monday, May. 8, 2023 Last Modified: 8:49 PM CDT Monday, May. 8, 2023 Updates

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This article was published 08/05/2023 (854 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The biological mother of a 16-year-old boy charged in a machete attack at CF Polo Park expressed concern about his well-being just over a week before the stabbings.

A social media post by the woman showed photos of a masked boy holding a machete.

The mother, who doesn’t live with her son, wrote a caption indicating she had attempted to help him before the attack.

She yelled “love you” to the boy as he turned and walked out of a small courtroom at the Manitoba Youth Centre Monday afternoon.

The teen, who cannot be identified because he is under 18, was remanded into custody during a brief appearance before a judge.

He is accused of injuring four teenage boys in the machete attack at about 8:30 p.m. Friday. He is also accused of robbing three pizza delivery drivers at knifepoint between April 25 and 29.

Two of the drivers were stabbed, according to police, who are looking for additional suspects in the robberies.

The boy was the lone suspect in the CF Polo Park attack, which unfolded during the unsuccessful robbery of a 14-year-old victim, city police said.

“This appears to be over a pair of running shoes that the 16 year old fixated on or wanted,” said Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Jason Michalyshen.

The 14 year old’s friends were attacked when they rushed to his aid.

Police said three 14-year-old boys and a 13-year-old boy suffered injuries to their upper and lower bodies.

Special-duty officers, who were in the mall, applied tourniquets to two of the 14 year olds, who were taken to hospital.

The two other boys were treated at the scene.

“This appears to be over a pair of running shoes that the 16 year old fixated on or wanted.”–Const. Jason Michalyshen

Police arrested a suspect in the 200 block of Queen Street less than an hour later.

He was charged with five counts of assault with a weapon, four counts of robbery and other offences.

The attack was “incredibly concerning” to police, said Michalyshen.

“It’s alarming when we’re talking about incidents involving 13 and 14 year olds, and (suspects) armed with weapons and prepared to use them,” he said. “Obviously, there are deeper-rooted issues with respect to the decisions these young (suspects) are making.”

For any youth suspect, the long-term goal is to deal with any “core issues” via resources and supports, and prevent recidivism, he said.

In recent weeks, police have released details of several violent incidents allegedly involving teenage suspects, including an April 18 attack involving bear spray and replica gun at Kildonan Place mall.

Michalyshen wanted to assure the public that recent incidents notwithstanding, shopping malls in the city are safe places.

“This is certainly an extreme scenario here, where we have a weapon and injuries,” he said of the latest attack.

Police believe it’s too soon in 2023 to say with certainty if youth crime trends are shifting, after year-to-year decreases in the number of minors charged with violent crimes between 2016 and 2021.

“We hope it’s the ebb and flow of incidents. We’re hoping we’re not going to see any trend upward,” said Michalyshen.

Toronto-based Cadillac Fairview did not make a spokesperson available for an interview despite a request from the Free Press.

“Police were on site during the time of the incident and tended to the scene immediately,” a spokesman wrote in an email. “We take the safety of our guests and employees very seriously and our management team is co-operating with the police investigation.”

Independent security consultant David Hyde, a former director of national security services for Cadillac Fairview, said violent incidents at malls tend to be “cyclical and geographically relevant.”

Shopping centres, which attract people from all backgrounds, are like a microcosm of the community, he said.

“What’s happening on the street can also manifest in the mall,” said Hyde, who is based near Toronto.

He described how youth who visit or hang out in malls present a balancing act for mall owners and security.

While young people are often associated with anti-social behaviour or crime in malls, the demographic is responsible for a fair amount of sales, said Hyde.

He said an effective security plan should include staff who are well-trained to spot potential problems, have close relationships with retailers and police, and closely monitor surveillance-camera feeds.

“What’s happening on the street can also manifest in the mall.”–David hyde, security consultant

Excessive loitering or other behaviours that raise concerns should be deterred or addressed to help prevent trouble, Hyde said.

“The security needs to be real-time,” he said. “The security needs to be very proactive and leaning into the environment, and looking for signs of trouble brewing or criminality.”

— With files from Maggie Macintosh

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @chriskitching