12-year-old Alberta boy charged with attempting to kill younger brother

A boy in southern Alberta has been accused of trying to stab his little brother to death and then allegedly lied about it, police said on Friday.

The stabbing happened last week in Lethbridge, where on Aug. 24 around 4:30 p.m., police said officers responded to a report that a seven-year-old boy had been stabbed at a northside residence.

The Lethbridge Police Service said a 911 call was made after the boy’s father arrived home and found his young son in serious medical distress.

Police said about an hour had transpired between when the stabbing took place and the dad got home.

According to police, the victim’s 12-year-old brother claimed an unknown man had entered the home and stabbed his younger brother before fleeing the scene.

The seven-year-old was initially taken by EMS to the Chinook Regional Hospital in Lethbridge with critical injuries. The boy was then airlifted to the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton.

Officers with the criminal investigation section began combing the property and found a knife believed to be used in the attack.

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As the investigation progressed, Lethbridge police said evidence was obtained “indicating the 12-year-old boy stabbed his brother repeatedly and believed he had killed him, then lied about an intruder entering the home.”

The 12-year-old boy, who cannot be identified due to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault.

Lethbridge Police Service Staff Sgt. Ashlin Snowdon, who is in charge of the criminal investigation section, answered questions about the case on Friday.

He wasn’t able to reveal much due to the victim and accused both being underage — something he noted isn’t common.

“The circumstances are incredibly rare,” Snowdon said.

“Anytime there’s this level of violence used in our community, it should be an extreme concern.”

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Police quickly determined there was no ongoing risk to neighbours or the public.

“When we respond to any type of incident and we get a version of events or a story, we need to gather all the evidence and establish truly what did happen. Our role is truth seekers and to find out all the details as best as we can,” Snowdon said.

It is “just as important to prove that something didn’t happen as that it did, and to also have an open mind.”

The accused is currently in custody awaiting a bail hearing. Police have not released a possible motive for the attack — Snowdon said it would be inappropriate to speak on that at this time.

The seven-year-old victim remains in Stollery in stable condition and Snowdon said he is doing better than last week.

Police said child and family services was contacted and family members have been connected with the victim services for additional support.

“It is difficult for everyone, I think, that’s involved in it — not only the investigators, but also the responding medical staff and all the other agencies that are involved,” Snowdon said.

Lethbridge police thanked Alberta Health Services, the Edmonton Police Service and RCMP for their help with the case.