Three stabbings that took place within a span of eight minutes on Dec. 21, 2021, have been deemed hate-motivated attacks by Calgary police.
“We believe the victims were attacked because of their socio-economic status,” said hate crime and extremism team Acting Sgt. Matt Messenger.
“They were targeted because they were experiencing homelessness and other vulnerabilities.”
Messenger said hate-motivated attacks normally target victims based on their religion, race or sexual orientation, not their socio-economic status.
“This is certainly a first that we’ve seen,” he said.
A review by the Calgary Police Service hate crime and extremism team took place after the “violent random stabbings” last month sent three men to hospital with stab wounds.
Jaymes Richardson, 29, and Asher Atter, 21, were arrested and charged in connection with the incidents.
According to a news release issued Wednesday, hate-motivated crimes are recognizable crimes such as assault, theft, vandalism or any other crime, where the offender was motivated by bias, prejudice or hate that is based on the personal characteristics of the victim.
Though investigators have deemed these incidents hate-motivated, that characterization will not result in additional charges to Richardson or Atter. It does, however, become part of the evidence considered by the courts if a person is found guilty of the connected crime.
If the judge decides during sentencing that hate was a motivation for the offence, it is an aggravating factor that can add to the convicted person’s sentence.
“We will not tolerate violence against people experiencing vulnerabilities,” said general investigations unit Staff Sgt. Kurt Jacobs.
“They are sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and acquaintances.
“They deserve to feel safe, and they deserve to be respected. All citizens have a right to move about our city free from the fear of harm.”
Chaz Smith is the founder of the homeless advocacy group Be The Change YYC. He said his organization has seen an increase in vulnerable Calgarians becoming the victims of violent assaults.
“We see the stab wounds when people are stabbed,” Smith said. “We do some of the aftercare on the streets.
“We see the bruises, the black eyes and continuing concern of people feeling unsafe.”
While speaking at an affordable housing announcement, Mayor Jyoti Gondek said there is zero tolerance for hate crimes of any kind in Calgary.
“(Hate crimes are) not acceptable and we need to do more to make sure that charges can (be swiftly laid)… and (to ensure that) people don’t think it’s OK to do this.”
–With files from Matthew Conrod, Global News