A man has been charged with a stabbing that occurred in Abbotsford on Friday afternoon, and police are seeking witnesses to a second unrelated one on Sunday morning.
The first incident took place at about 2 p.m. Friday in the Garden Village mobile home park at 1884 McCallum Rd. A neighbour heard screams coming from one of the units, and saw a man running up the driveway as she ran to check on the resident.
The neighbour found a 71-year-old woman suffering from multiple stab wounds. The Good Samaritan called 911 and provided police with a description of the suspect, who was arrested minutes later on McCallum Road.
The suspect is the 48-year-old son of the victim. Murray Gordon Watson of Vancouver has been charged with assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm.
Const. Ian MacDonald said the victim suffered at least six stab wounds – including three to the face, one to the abdomen and one to each hand – and was expected to be released from hospital over the weekend.
Watson has an extensive criminal record and has previously been convicted of assault, carrying a prohibited weapon, driving without a driver's licence, and breach of probation, according to the provincial court database.
The second incident occurred between 1 and 2 a.m. on Sunday at the skateboard park located in the area of Old Yale Road and McMillan Road.
Two people came upon a 23-year-old man who had been stabbed once in the face and once in the abdomen/hip area, and they phoned 911.
The victim reported that he had been skateboarding when a dark sedan pulled up, and two men got out of the vehicle, while a third remained in the car.
The victim said the two men approached him, made some comments that didn't make sense, and then attacked him before grabbing his skateboard and fleeing.
MacDonald said police are still trying to piece together more specific details, including
descriptions of the assailants.
"A person in shock is not always in the best shape to give you accurate or thorough information," he said of the victim, who received stitches for his wounds and was then released from hospital.
Any witnesses to the incident are asked to call the Abbotsford Police at 604-859-5225 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.