WINNIPEG – Canada Day is supposed to be a celebration but that was interrupted by two separate violent incidents including a fight at The Forks skateboard park that quickly escalated out of control and it was all caught on camera.
Cellphone video of a teen being slashed with a machete at The Forks has been seen over 49,000 times.
Kevin Walsh comes to the skate park everyday and saw the fight start around 8:30 Wednesday evening but couldn’t believe it turned so violent.
“These two guys were fighting and then all of a sudden there was some guy that he had a machete wrapped up in his shirt,” said Walsh, “he went to go fight him and dropped the machete on the ground and then he picked it up and hit him, hit him in the back shoulder and they both ran.”
WATCH: A man swings a blade in a fight in this video posted by Facebook user Ricky Twoheart. WARNING: This video contains disturbing content. The video has been blurred due to the presence of minors.
The suspect ran but police and security were already nearby and quickly arrested 20-year old Tyler Roussin. He’s charged with assault and possession of a weapon.
The 17-year old victim is in stable condition. Police say the two men did not know each other.
“I got scared, really you bring a weapon to the skate park when there’s hundreds of children, families,” said Walsh.
More than 100,000 people took in Canada Day at The Forks, it’s largest crowd in 20 years.
READ MORE: Thousands of Winnipeggers create living flag at Shaw Park
“You can’t be everywhere at once unfortunately,” said Chelsea Thomson, Communications Coordinators with The Forks, “and even though we do believe we had the right number of people on sight a few bad seeds make their way into the mix unfortunately.”
Then three hours later at 12:40 in the morning, police responded to a triple stabbing at a block party in the Earls restaurant parking lot on Main Street, three men were stabbed, two have serious injuries. No arrests have been made but police are investigating gang connections.
“Early stages of this investigation we have to speak to the victims,” said Constable Jason Michalyshen, he says police responded to nearly 800 calls for service on Canada Day, higher than usual.
Back at the skate park, Walsh isn’t surprised by the violence there, he sees it almost daily.
“Past 9 or 10 you better be with some friends because there are people that come here and jump you,” said Walsh.
Winnipeg Police expect to make more arrests in the incident at The Forks and Forks officials say they will review its policy to see if they need to increase the number of security during large events.
READ MORE: Canada Day stabbing kills 1 man, critically injures 2nd in Winnipeg
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