Man on a rampage; 26-year-old kills sister, injures 7 others in stabbing attack

Warning: This story contains disturbing details. A man who stabbed eight people, including his 18-year-old sister, died after colliding with an RCMP cruiser outside Black River First Nation early Thursday morning, Manitoba RCMP have announced. Police say Tyrone Simard, 26, went on a stabbing rampage that killed his sister and put seven people in hospital before fleeing his home community of Hollow Water First Nation in a stolen vehicle, Supt. Rob Lasson told a news conference in Winnipeg Thursday afternoon. “They were all known to each other in the community,” Lasson said of the victims. He noted a female Mountie was critically injured in the collision on Hwy. 304 near neighboring Black River First Nation but is expected to make a full recovery. “She drove towards something people usually drive away from,” Lasson said. “She is truly a hero.” Other victims Lasson declined to release the officer’s name or that of the other victims, who remain in the Health Sciences Centre (HSC) and Selkirk Regional Health Centre, because they have yet to be interviewed by investigators. “People we need to talk to are undergoing treatment right now,” he added. The victims ranged in age from 18 to 60. Lasson said the incident was not related to the mass stabbing on James Smith Cree Nation in northern Saskatchewan that occurred three years ago today, calling it a “coincidence”. The influx of injured from the Anishinaabe community two hours northeast of Winnipeg caused HSC to declare a “Code Orange alert”, said Dr. Shawn Young, chief operating officer of HSC. “Our deepest sympathies go to the family members and community members,” he said from the podium. “We stand with you in this difficult time.” Eight victims Young said the alert was issued at 8:14 a.m. He said six victims arrived by ground ambulance and two by air ambulance. Young said hospital staff, including Indigenous Elders and liaison workers, were offering support and providing “comfort, counselling and hope.” Lasson said RCMP officers were still going house to house in Hollow Water, about two hours northeast of Winnipeg, to ensure everyone was safe and there were no other victims. He said the first emergency call came in from a First Nations Safety Officer, who lives in the community, at 3:45 a.m. The safety officer reported an assault. Lasson said a second call was received at 5:53 a.m. reporting a possible stabbing. Tyrone Simard stands in a Feb. 16 photo. He died in a motor vehicle collision Sept. 4 after he stabbed multiple people in his home community of Hollow Water First Nation in Manitoba. Photo: Facebook The safety officer “located a number of people suffering serious injuries from stab wounds” at two different crime scenes, he told reporters. “I know there are many, many unanswered questions,” Lawson said. “They will be asked when the victims recover.” Lasson said Simard died at the scene of the collision at 6:53 a.m. “She’s the hero,” agreed Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew. “She stopped a man on a rampage.” Kinew said he had visited Hollow Water, the home of his Natural Resources Minister Ian Bushie, many times. And found it full of “good, caring people.” Compassion and caring He called on Manitobans to view the tragedy with compassion and caring. Lasson noted that Simard was “known to police” but refused to provide details. Hollow Water Chief Larry Barker received a hug and a handshake from Kinew before addressing the news conference. He then teared up as he spoke. “I’ve asked my community to continue to pray for them,” he said of the victims. “The families were very close to me.” National gathering  The tragedy occurred on the second day of a national gathering of chiefs in Winnipeg. The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is hosting its annual assembly in the Manitoba capital, where it has been discussing addictions, the opioid crisis in communities, national infrastructure projects and child welfare reform. Derek Nepinak, chief of Minegoziibe Anishinabe (Pine Creek First Nation) in Manitoba, sent  his “heartfelt condolences” to the people of Hollow Water from the AFN venue Thursday morning. He such tragedies bring First Nations people together to support those affected. He suggested a more “coordinated national response” is needed to respond to violence, mental health issues and substance abuse on First Nations. “Because we’re not adequately provisioned, not adequately addressing the prevalence of and the potential for these scenarios to unfold in our communities across the country, and we need a better coordinated response across the board,” he said in an interview. “Let’s provide services for people to deal with addictions at a much at a much greater level. Let’s get ahead of addiction issues. Let’s provide more outlets and resources for people suffering mental health issues and illness in the community, because right now, it’s just not there.” Continue Reading