Boy stabbed at Topsail soccer field in serious condition, suspect in custody
Premier-designate Davis calls incident 'devastating' for community
Police in St. John's say they now have a suspect in custody in connection with the stabbing of a boy, believed to be 11, at a soccer field in Topsail on Thursday evening.
An eyewitness told CBC News that roughly 100 kids were on the soccer field in the Conception Bay South-area field at the time of the incident as part of a soccer camp, when an older boy, about 18, ran from the bleachers and stabbed the young boy in the neck.
An eyewitness said people, including many parents who were watching from the stands, were in shock and started screaming and yelling. Although some people tried to stop the attacker, he got away.
One witness said the young boy was holding his injured neck. The witness said he applied pressure to the boy's wound while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
The coaches got the children off the field and into the dressing rooms in lockdown mode while they waited for police to arrive.
Witnesses reported seeing the suspect flee the scene in a vehicle.
Incoming premier Paul Davis, who gets sworn into office on Friday, visited with families who were in attendance after the incident, which he called "devastating."
"This is my own community and my own neighbourhood and I know many of the families and children that were here tonight when this happened," he said.
"Right now our thoughts are with this young boy and with his family as well. And we're all hoping, and all our focus is ensuring, that he recovers," Davis added.
RNC Chief Bill Janes confirmed later Thursday night that police have a suspect in custody, and officers had seized a vehicle from the area of the incident.
Police said they will not be releasing any information about the suspect or how he was apprehended, and cannot say if the suspect and victim were known to each other.
Janes said a stress management co-ordinator has been called in to help victims and witnesses deal with the situation.