More youths, including 12-year-old girl, charged in Winnipeg machete attacks

A 14-year-old boy has been charged in a machete attack in Winnipeg earlier this month that left a 15-year-old boy with life-altering injuries — as well as an attack a few days prior to that, which left an 80-year-old man with serious injuries.

A 12-year-old girl and 15-year-old boy have also been charged in connection with the attack on the elderly man. The boy was already in custody for the attack on the other 15-year-old, the Winnipeg Police Service said in a Friday news release.

Officers were called around 9:45 p.m. on Aug. 4 to Pritchard Avenue, near Powers Street, where the man had been assaulted with a machete. He had serious upper-body injuries and was taken to hospital, where he has since been upgraded to stable condition.

Police say the 14-year-old and 15-year-old boys, along with the girl, were intoxicated and armed with machetes and an axe.

The group first confronted some people outside a residence. The people ran inside without being injured.

The youths then turned their focus to the 80-year-old man, who was outside smoking when he was randomly attacked.

The girl was first to be arrested and was charged, while police continued searching for the two teens.

Around 10 p.m. on Aug. 7, the 14-year-old spray-painted graffiti on a garage door in the Tyndall Park area, police say. He and the other teen then made their way to Selkirk Avenue, near Aikins Street, around 11 p.m., where they viciously attacked the 15-year-old, according to police.

That boy was knocked to the ground, then kicked, punched and struck multiple times with a machete. He was rushed to hospital in critical condition. His family previously told CBC News he endured 20 hours of surgery and was upgraded to stable condition.

The boy suffered two broken arms with cuts down to his bones, a skull fracture and slashes to his face and back, and had to have at least one completely severed finger reattached, family said.

The 15-year-old accused was arrested one street over, on Flora Avenue, a short time after the assault, but the 14-year-old remained outstanding.

On Aug. 15, he sent threatening messages to a social services office, leading to a lockdown and officers being called, according to police. The 14-year-old was found on Kairistine Lane, off Albina Way in the Tyndall Park area, and taken into custody.

He is charged in connection with both machete attacks, as well as the graffiti and threats to the social services agency. He faces charges of assault, possession of a weapon, robbery, uttering threats, and five counts of failing to comply with a previous sentence.

The 15-year-old, who was still in custody following the Aug. 7 attack on the teen, was also charged in connection with the incident involving the elderly man.

He is also charged with four counts of failing to comply with a prior sentence.