Alberta Police Charge 12-Year-Old With Attempted Murder After Sibling Stabbed

Police in Lethbridge, Alberta, say they’ve charged a 12-year-old with attempted murder after the boy’s younger sibling was stabbed.

Police said they responded to a report that a 7-year-old boy had been stabbed on Aug. 27 just after 4:30 p.m.

“A 911 call was made after the victim’s father arrived home and located his seven-year-old son in serious medical distress,” Lethbridge police said in a Sept. 5 news release.

The victim was taken to Chinook Regional Hospital with “critical injuries” and later flown to the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, police said.

The boy remains in hospital in stable condition.

According to police, the victim’s 12-year-old brother said a strange man had entered the home and stabbed the 7-year-old before fleeing.

Police said they determined “very early in the investigation” that there was no ongoing risk to neighbours or the public.

The Criminal Investigation Section started an investigation and found a knife on the property that was believed to be used in the incident.

Investigators obtained evidence that indicated the 12-year-old boy had stabbed his brother repeatedly while the boys were alone in the home, according to Lethbridge police. The 12-year-old allegedly “believed he had killed him” and then lied about a stranger being responsible for the attack, police said.

The 12-year-old boy is facing charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault. He cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Police said he was still in custody and awaiting a judicial interim release hearing.

Child and Family Services have been contacted, police said, adding that family members had also been connected with the Victim and Witness Services Unit for additional support.

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

The investigation is ongoing but police said that no further information will be released.

Ontario Youths Face Attempted Murder Charges

The charges against the Alberta youth come after police in Ontario say that two other youths in that province were also charged with attempted murder in separate incidents.

York Regional Police say they charged a 12-year-old with attempted murder of a man in Markham.

Police said the boy was out on bail for other charges when he allegedly shot a man who was sitting in an SUV. Authorities said they believe the shooting was targeted, but have not released a potential motive.

The boy was arrested on Sept. 2.

Toronto police are also searching for a 14-year-old boy they believe is behind the shooting of two men in their 20s.

Police say the incident happened at a home in the Danforth Road and Eglinton Avenue East area of Scarborough on Aug. 31 at approximately 5:10 p.m.

The victims were transported to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, police said.

The 14-year-old is facing several charges, including two counts of attempted murder, disguise with intent, two counts of failing to comply with a release order, and several firearm-related charges.