EDMONTON – The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) is investigating three separate stabbings that happened on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning.
“Homicide detectives have been working around the clock this evening, as well as patrol members that are hunkering down at various scenes while forensics do their job, so busy times for sure,” said EPS spokesperson Scott Pattison.
The first incident occurred at around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, when a man was fatally stabbed just north of downtown in the Central McDougall neighbourhood.
Officers were called to a weapons complaint in the parking lot of a Mac’s convenience store on 107 Avenue, near 104 Street.
Witnesses told police that two men got into a fight, during which one of the men was stabbed.
The victim was treated on scene by paramedics before being taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Police took a suspect into custody Wednesday morning but charges had not been laid.
“We have a suspect in custody right now, no charges at this point,” said Pattison. “Certainly, he’s being interviewed.”
An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Several hours later, Edmonton police officers were called to a south side motel about another weapons complaint.
At around 2:40 Wednesday morning, police found a 25-year-old man suffering from stab wounds in the parking lot of the Travelodge motel at 45 Avenue, between Calgary Trail and Gateway Boulevard.
Witnesses told police a fight broke out between several men at Diamonds Gentlemen’s Club at 46 Avenue and Gateway Boulevard.
“I don’t have any indication of what prompted the altercation, whether or not those statements are accurate, but those are the initial witness statements,” said Pattison.
The victim was taken to hospital in critical condition, where he died a few hours later.
On Friday, following an autopsy that confirmed 25-year-old Aaron Cote was stabbed to death, police deemed his death a homicide.
A motel guest said he was shaken up by what had happened.
“I haven’t had a chance to think about it because I just walked out of the door, but when I see that blood laying there and everything it’s pretty bad,” said Gary Robinson, Travelodge guest.
EPS was reviewing surveillance video to determine what happened, and speaking to family members of the victim and potential witnesses of the incident.
Police believe the suspects fled the scene in a white Ford F-150 truck.
Anyone who saw a truck fitting the description in the area Wednesday morning is asked to contact police.
“I know we’re looking for one male suspect who was driving the truck,” said Pattison.
The third stabbing happened at around 3 a.m. Wednesday near 109 Avenue and 97 Street in the McCauley neighbourhood.
Police say a man was taken to hospital with a stab wound.
His current condition is not known.
Shortly after the incident, investigators were speaking to witnesses and searching for suspects.
“A crime is random. It happens anytime, any place,” said Pattison on the number of stabbings that occurred overnight. “Sometimes it comes in a flurry, sometimes it doesn’t come at all, so really these things are hard to predict.”
“Stabbings, for a long time, have always been the number one weapon of choice in the greater Edmonton area.”
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