A mother who scared off three people who were attacking her son with an axe and a machete in Brampton received a bravery award from the city on Thursday.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown presented the award to Jasmail Kaur Mann at Brampton City Hall.
The incident targeting her son Joti Singh Mann — a well-known podcast host and real estate agent — happened the morning of Aug. 4 in the driveway of their home, located in the area of Mayfield Road and Hurontario Street.
He was attacked by three individuals, one of whom was armed with a machete and one an axe, until the assault was stopped when Jasmail came running out the home and scared them off.
“We want to honour her as a community,” Brown told reporters.
“You know sometimes we highlight the negative in an incident and I think this was something beautiful — the love of a mother to a son. And the City of Brampton, we want to acknowledge her courage because she’s a local hero. She saved her son’s life.”
Brown said this was the first time in his four years as mayor that council passed a resolution to give a bravery award.
“She put her own life at risk to save her son. And that’s extraordinary and that’s why we’re honouring her because I think she showed courage and bravery,” Brown said.
The bravery award was one of several recognitions she received. Among the others, she was given then Queen’s Platinum Jubilee pin from Ruby Sahota, member of parliament for Brampton North.
“It’s very disturbing to all in the community,” Sahota said of the attack.
Jasmail, speaking through Sahota who translated for her, said her son was off to do his radio show as usual when the attack took place.
Jasmail was going to take a shower when she noticed on the camera feed that there were some individuals in the driveway.
She thought something was going on and it didn’t initially occur that her son may have been involved.
Jasmail said she ran outside, told them that she called the police — even though she hadn’t yet — and believes that is what scared them off.
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She also threw Joti’s shoe at them as they fled.
Jasmail, speaking earlier through another translator, said her son is also very brave and has made good progress in healing thus far, but has months of recovery ahead.
The family now wants to see the attackers caught.
Brown echoed that.
“I hope that they’re arrested very soon and the police are able to apprehend them. The type of barbaric attack is vile and disgusting,” the mayor said.
Video of the attack garnered plenty of attention when it circulated in the media.
It shows Joti walking to his white Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and getting in, and then three suspects running towards the vehicle as one armed with an axe smashes the window.
Joti gets out of the vehicle, attempting to fend off the three attackers. One is armed with a machete, while one has an axe, the video shows.
Eventually, Joti gets pulled out of the vehicle by his foot and he pushes past the three suspects, only to get attacked by them again just behind the Jeep at the end of his driveway, slightly out of frame.
The suspects are then seen continuing to swing their weapons at the victim, who attempts to flee and falls to the ground.
The video then shows Jasmail running from her home toward the attackers and scaring them off. She is seen throwing a shoe at them as they run away.
Police said Joti suffered life-altering injuries.
On Aug. 11, Peel Regional Police held a press conference regarding their investigation into the incident. They haven’t provided a public update since.
Police said at the time that Joti had a “safety plan” put in place after receiving a death threat just days before the “targeted” incident.
“We were aware that the victim a few days prior had received a death threat,” Supt. Sean Gormley said.
“That was under an active investigation and that forms now part of this investigation. And we’re trying to determine whether or not that is related to the incident that occurred.
“A safety plan was put in place with the victim at the time that the death threat was reported to us.”
Gormley was asked to expand upon what exactly the “safety plan” entailed and whether it took effect prior to the attack, but he did not elaborate.
“I can’t comment specifically what the safety plan was,” he said.
“Unfortunately, you know, these persons, as you can tell by the video, were very motivated to try and inflict some serious harm on this gentleman.”
Investigators said the incident is being considered attempted murder.
While officers believe the attack was targeted, Gormley said they were still working to identify a specific motive.
“There are numerous pieces of information that are coming to us that we’re looking into, but we have not identified the exact motive,” he said, adding that officers were not sure if the suspects and victim know each other.
Police noted that one of the suspects was wearing black clothing with black gloves and a black baseball hat.
The second suspect was wearing black clothing, black shoes with red laces and black gloves.
The third suspect had a black sweater on with the hood up, grey track pants and black gloves.
Police said all three were wearing surgical masks.
— with files from Gabby Rodrigues
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