Surveillance video has emerged of one of two random, violent attacks in Toronto’s west end on Wednesday as police continue working to apprehend a suspect.
In the footage, which was shared with CTV News Toronto, a man in dark clothing appears to approach another man from behind and stabs him in the leg.
The victim, whom they’ve identified as a 33-year-old man, is then seen quickly clutching his leg as the suspect runs away.
An employee of a nearby store said that the attack happened near her business on Bloor Street West, near Pauline Avenue, just after 4:30 p.m.
“I heard people screaming,” said the woman, who didn’t want to be identified.
“It’s not like before. Now, there is no safety, honestly.”
Police said moments earlier, the same suspect randomly attacked a 47-year-old man in the underground mezzanine level at Dufferin Station.
Both victims were taken to the hospital and received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
“In both instances, the suspect approached the victim from behind and attacked them with an edged weapon,” Const. Cindy Chung said on Thursday.
The assaults, police added, were unprovoked, and the suspect and victims did not know one another.
Investigators have now identified the suspect as 18-year-old Noah Christopher Chapman, of Toronto.
They say he’s wanted for two counts of aggravated assault and one count each of carrying a concealed weapon and weapons dangerous.
Investigators won’t say if Chapman is known to them.
On Thursday, police released images of the suspect, captured at Dufferin Station.
They describe him as being between five feet, six inches tall and five feet, eight inches tall, with a medium build and facial hair.
The suspect, they say, was last seen wearing a black hooded winter jacket, a black hat, black gloves, black ripped pants, and white shoes with black accents, and carrying a black backpack.
‘Alarming incident’
In a statement provided to CTV News Toronto, the TTC said its “thoughts are with the victim of this alarming incident at this time.”
“Like everyone, we are concerned about any acts of violence on the TTC which is why we’ve invested tens of millions of new dollars for enhanced and expanded safety and security measures in the last three years,” the transit agency said.
“The TTC is safe, moving millions of trips every day without incident, but we cannot and do not take that for granted and incidents like this remind us about the importance of keeping safety as our paramount concern always.”
Spokesperson Stuart Green went on to say that the images and information they provided to police helped identify a suspect, adding they’d “continue to support their investigation as needed.”
‘It’s scary’
Some people who work and live in the area are on heightened alert as a result of the attacks.
“I just can’t get a mental grasp of what is really going on in some people’s minds that’s provoking them to this type of just random anger,” one woman told CTV News Toronto.
Added another: “I have to watch around for my son, for my safety.”
“Why would somebody just stab someone, like minding their own business. Yeah. It’s scary,” said a man near the scene on Thursday.
“We always have to watch our backs, you know, after an incident like that.”
‘Very concerning’
Based on leads so far, Toronto police say these unprovoked attacks are “very concerning,” and they take them “very seriously,” adding it’s only a matter of time before the suspect is arrested.
“The unprovoked element of that makes the public feel unsafe in open spaces or shared spaces, so we want to assure the public that we have identified the suspect, and that investigators are working actively to bring (him) into custody,” Chung said.
This investigation is ongoing, and anyone with further information about these incidents should contact Toronto police at 416-808-1100 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
With files from CTV News Toronto’s Mike Walker and CP24’s Laura Sebben
