Teen charged with attempted murder after 11-year-old stabbed on soccer field
CTVNews.ca Staff
Published Friday, September 26, 2014 6:20AM EDT
Last Updated Friday, September 26, 2014 10:28PM EDT The bizarre stabbing of an 11-year-old boy while playing soccer on a field is something that should not be happening in eastern Newfoundland, let alone Canada, says the province’s newly sworn-in Premier Paul Davis.
“These are things we should not be seeing in Canada. Certainly not anything we should see here in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Davis, who said he knew the families at the field and rushed there once heard what transpired.
The shocking stabbing occurred Thursday at 7:45 p.m. As many as 100 players and spectators gathered for a soccer skills camp at Topsail Field in the small town of Conception Bay South, 20 kilometres southwest of the province’s capital, St. John’s Newfoundland.
Following the stabbing, the suspect was seen fleeing the scene in a van and was later captured by police.
Nicholas Layman, 19, was charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and attempted murder
Layman appeared before a judge in provincial court in St. John’s, Newfoundland on Friday where he was ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment. He is scheduled to return to court next Friday.
The stabbing has left the boy in serious condition, where he remains in hospital.
Friends of the family said the suspect and the 11-year-old knew one another, and the suspect’s younger sister played on the same soccer team as the victim. It is unknown what motivated the suspect to leap from the stands, pull out a knife and stab the youngster in the neck.
“It’s unknown whether or not the motives of the suspect were targeted or random. The investigation is still ongoing,” Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Nadia Churchill said.
When asked if the suspect was known to police, Churchill declined to comment.
Fear, anger and disbelief has stirred this tight-knit community of approximately 25,000.
Leslie Smallwood, who lives across from the field, said she was horrified as children ran from the field to search for their parents.
“I was shocked this would happen in such a public area in front of people. This place is always packed with families,” Smallwood said, adding that her daughter is frightened.
Chief William Janes, of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, said the department’s critical stress management co-ordinator is working in collaboration with the Salvation Army Critical Stress Team to provide debriefing to children and families who witnessed the stabbing.
“This incident can only be described as a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with the victim and his family,” Janes said.
Ken McDonald, Mayor of the Town of Conception Newfoundland, said he’s shocked.
“What would bring a 19-year-old to run out onto a soccer field and join a soccer clinic of 11 and 12-year-olds and do this to a young innocent individual?” McDonald said.
Calvin Rendell, of the Conception Bay South Soccer Association, said the stabbing is something the victim will have to live with for the rest of his life.
“This is such a cruel thing to happen to an innocent child. We’re really hoping for a full recovery of this little fellow because it’s so unfair to happen to an innocent child having fun and doing what he loves,” Rendell said, adding that crisis intervention councillors have been made available to the community.
Read more: Teen charged with attempted murder after 11-year-old stabbed on soccer field in Newfoundland | CTV News
Freaking bizarre.
Published Friday, September 26, 2014 6:20AM EDT
Last Updated Friday, September 26, 2014 10:28PM EDT The bizarre stabbing of an 11-year-old boy while playing soccer on a field is something that should not be happening in eastern Newfoundland, let alone Canada, says the province’s newly sworn-in Premier Paul Davis.
“These are things we should not be seeing in Canada. Certainly not anything we should see here in Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Davis, who said he knew the families at the field and rushed there once heard what transpired.
The shocking stabbing occurred Thursday at 7:45 p.m. As many as 100 players and spectators gathered for a soccer skills camp at Topsail Field in the small town of Conception Bay South, 20 kilometres southwest of the province’s capital, St. John’s Newfoundland.
Following the stabbing, the suspect was seen fleeing the scene in a van and was later captured by police.
Nicholas Layman, 19, was charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon and attempted murder
Layman appeared before a judge in provincial court in St. John’s, Newfoundland on Friday where he was ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment. He is scheduled to return to court next Friday.
The stabbing has left the boy in serious condition, where he remains in hospital.
Friends of the family said the suspect and the 11-year-old knew one another, and the suspect’s younger sister played on the same soccer team as the victim. It is unknown what motivated the suspect to leap from the stands, pull out a knife and stab the youngster in the neck.
“It’s unknown whether or not the motives of the suspect were targeted or random. The investigation is still ongoing,” Royal Newfoundland Constabulary Nadia Churchill said.
When asked if the suspect was known to police, Churchill declined to comment.
Fear, anger and disbelief has stirred this tight-knit community of approximately 25,000.
Leslie Smallwood, who lives across from the field, said she was horrified as children ran from the field to search for their parents.
“I was shocked this would happen in such a public area in front of people. This place is always packed with families,” Smallwood said, adding that her daughter is frightened.
Chief William Janes, of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, said the department’s critical stress management co-ordinator is working in collaboration with the Salvation Army Critical Stress Team to provide debriefing to children and families who witnessed the stabbing.
“This incident can only be described as a terrible tragedy and our thoughts are with the victim and his family,” Janes said.
Ken McDonald, Mayor of the Town of Conception Newfoundland, said he’s shocked.
“What would bring a 19-year-old to run out onto a soccer field and join a soccer clinic of 11 and 12-year-olds and do this to a young innocent individual?” McDonald said.
Calvin Rendell, of the Conception Bay South Soccer Association, said the stabbing is something the victim will have to live with for the rest of his life.
“This is such a cruel thing to happen to an innocent child. We’re really hoping for a full recovery of this little fellow because it’s so unfair to happen to an innocent child having fun and doing what he loves,” Rendell said, adding that crisis intervention councillors have been made available to the community.
Read more: Teen charged with attempted murder after 11-year-old stabbed on soccer field in Newfoundland | CTV News
Freaking bizarre.
