Newcomers recovering after violent attack on Portage Avenue

WINNIPEG — A husband and wife who came to Winnipeg from Israel seven weeks ago are recovering emotionally and physically after they were randomly attacked downtown.

While on a break from their introductory class for newcomers, Talia and Shayke Gohari were approached by a man who tried to take her purse at around 7 p.m. last Thursday.

When Shayke intervened, he says the attacker pulled out a drywall knife and left a deep slash in his left wrist before he used the knife on Talia.

“He don’t think twice and cut me in my arm and after that he cut my wife,” said Gohari.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He don't think twice and cut me in my arm and after that he cut my wife," said Gohari.

The deep wound in Gohari’s arm bled profusely. He was taken to hospital along with his wife, who was conveyed in a separate ambulance.

Gohari is still awaiting surgery and has been told he won’t be able to work at his construction job for at least six months.

“I all the time think about how I can support my family,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I all the time think about how I can support my family," he said.

He and Talia have three children between the ages of three and nine.

“We don’t have anyone here, what can we do in this situation?” she said tearfully.

Altered Minds Inc., the agency where the Goharis were taking the class, is one of four newcomer groups operating in the same block of Portage Ave. near Garry St.

They view the attack as an isolated incident and don’t believe the Goharis were targeted but are planning on meeting to discuss ways to improve safety for their clients.

“All the executive directors of the services on this block are meeting on Friday to discuss, to bring our thoughts together,” said Grace Eidse, executive director of Altered Minds Inc.

Eidse said she has been receiving and forwarding a number of phone calls from people looking to offer financial help to the Gohari family.

Police have arrested a suspect in the alleged robbery and attack. Lee Grant Boucher is facing a number of charges including aggravated assault.