Watch above: The victim of a recent random stabbing in Saskatoon’s downtown says more security should be present. Aaron Streck spoke to the survivor who is joined by others in the call for a safe downtown.
SASKATOON – On Friday, Feb. 13, Kelly Lutz was on his way to pick up movie gift cards for his daughters for Valentine’s Day when he was attacked outside of the Scotiabank Theatre Saskatoon and VIP. Lutz is now joining others in a call for safety improvements downtown.
“I see him behind me and he hits me with what I thought was punches three or four really hard punches in the back,” said Lutz.
A 40-year-old man is charged with stabbing Lutz in the lower back four times and once in the hand.
“My hand was really cut and I could see blood actually pooling on my side, it was running from the jacket down so I know that this isn’t just a small cut,” Lutz.
The Saskatoon businessman was transported to Royal University Hospital. Lutz didn’t need surgery or have any permanent lung damage.
“I was just so fortunate to be able to leave the hospital 48 hours later,” said Lutz.
READ MORE: Man arrested after stabbing outside Saskatoon movie theatre
Since the attack, Lutz has replayed the incident over and over in his mind. He believes in Saskatoon’s downtown but thinks something needs to be done to improve security.
“It was what I believe a fully random attack by a deranged individual but again there’s circumstances that happen and if we could do anything as a community or as a downtown to be able to minimize it from happening I’m all for that,” said Lutz.
Watch below: A man who was stabbed outside a movie theatre in downtown Saskatoon on Feb. 13 speaks out about the attack.
Others feel the same.
“That particular individual does not represent the vast majority of the people that we serve but we do need to work together to look at services and how we can improve those and what protocols and procedures we can put in place to ensure safety for everyone,” said DeeAnn Mercier, with The Lighthouse Supported Living.
“We’ve been working with various businesses in the city and the police and The Lighthouse in the past and there’s no doubt we will be continuing to do that into the future,” said Brent Penner, executive director of the Saskatoon downtown business improvement district.
In the meantime, Lutz is back to work and has resumed walking downtown.
“I’ve walked up and down the street but you know what it’s going to be in my mind for sure, there’s no doubt when someone comes behind me I know it’s going to be there,” said Lutz.
Knowing his attack could have been much worse, he describes it as being in the wrong place at the wrong time and it could have happened to anyone.
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