Police said Thursday that two women, ages 32 and 41, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries after being stabbed by a 25-year-old man in the Homesteader neighborhood. The dead man was identified by family as Brian Berland, of the Cold Lake First Nations in northeastern Alberta. Berland, who was in Edmonton visiting family, was walking with his sister and her dog when he was attacked, said his brother-in-law Allen Frost. “Brian Berland is a hero. My wife Jamie and Brian were out walking our puppy and the shooter came out of the nearby bushes and started stabbing Brian,” Frost said in a Facebook message Thursday to The Canadian Press. “Brian yelled at Jamie to run. As he ran, he let go of our puppy’s leash and it took off and was still missing.” An Edmonton police vehicle was parked near a scene in the area of Hermitage Street and Henry Avenue. Three people were stabbed, one fatally, in a series of attacks on Wednesday. (Trevor Wilson/CBC) Frost said his wife was not physically injured. He said his family planned to hold a vigil for Berland at the crime scene Thursday night.
The suspect knew one of the victims
Police said they received calls from multiple people around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday who said three people had been stabbed in the area of Hermitage Street and Henry Avenue. Responding officers found three victims. The man was already dead. The women were treated at the scene before being taken to hospital. Police said the 32-year-old was stabbed by a man who approached her at a bus stop. The 41-year-old woman was stabbed minutes later in a tent nearby, police said. Police believe the suspect, who was arrested Wednesday night, knew one of the victims, the actor. Brent Dahlseide said Thursday afternoon. But he didn’t know how they knew each other, or how long they had known each other. Flowers have been left at the corner of Hermitage Street and Henry Avenue in northeast Edmonton in memory of stabbing victim Brian Berland. (Trevor Wilson/CBC) Berland was then stabbed multiple times at the intersection of Hermitage Street and Henry Avenue. “These incidents appear to be unprovoked,” police said. During the police search in the Homesteader neighborhood, some businesses, daycare centers and schools were put on lockdown for safety. Shortly before 6 p.m., officers found the suspect on foot in the area of 50th Street and 122nd Avenue, about two kilometers from the crime scene, and took him into custody. On Wednesday, EPS identified the suspect as Clarence Lawrence. But on Thursday, police said they would confirm the suspect’s name after charges are filed. Edmonton police believe the suspect, who was arrested Wednesday night, knew one of the stabbing victims, Acting Supt. Brent Dahlseide told reporters Thursday afternoon. (Trevor Wilson/CBC) Lawrence was taken to the hospital after his arrest for a mental and physical health evaluation. “I can’t speculate on the mental health status, whether it’s something drug-induced or alcohol-induced,” Dahlseide said, adding that homicide detectives delayed interviewing Lawrence until Thursday.
Police chief, mayor offer condolences
Police Chief Dale McFee said Wednesday on Twitter that many in the community were left shaken after the attacks. “My condolences to the victim’s family and my prayers to the injured,” he wrote. Mayor Amarjeet Sohi also took to Twitter to thank police “for the hard work they do to keep Edmontonians safe and informed.” Sohi said he was “heartbroken” to learn that one person had died and two others were injured. “My thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.”
