‘It makes you think about how quickly life can change’: Musician taken to hospital after Moncton assault

A Moncton musician is recovering in a hospital after a weekend assault.

The wife of a 37-year-old man who was badly beaten in downtown Moncton, N.B., Saturday night says her husband is getting better but it’s been a hard week for them.

Musician John McLaren was attacked on Main Street just before midnight after finishing a solo performance at Happy Craft Brewery. He was rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

“He can communicate,” said Brittany McLaren. “He is getting better. They’re saying he could be here for another week or two at least.”

Brittany told CTV News on Thursday the man who assaulted her husband was a past friend and a former co-worker. She didn’t want to say much about what happened after her husband’s show on Saturday night because police haven’t taken a statement from McLaren yet.

The RCMP responded to the assault report around 11:52 p.m. and found McLaren unconscious.

Police arrested Luke Powers at a Weldon Street residence, on Tuesday. The 43-year-old appeared in Moncton Provincial Court Wednesday and was charged with aggravated assault. He is scheduled to return to court on Friday.

McLaren is recovering and he is able to speak but Brittany said there’s concern about the injuries to his brain and he gets confused sometimes.

“It makes you think about how quickly life can change and you have to be grateful for everything you have and never take for granted the time you have with your loved ones,” said Brittany.

Eddie Arsenault plays drums in a band with McLaren and called him a great guy. When he heard the news of the attack, Arsenault said he was “livid.”

“I headed right down there and when I saw the blood on the sidewalk I was terrified really, expecting the worst,” said Arsenault.

He’s visited McLaren every day since.

“The first time I seen him there with the tubes down his throat he had broken bones in his face,” said Arsenault. “His head was all swollen. It was absolutely horrible seeing him like that.”

Arsenault said he was able to view surveillance video of the assault.

“I must say it was truly a terrible sight to see,” he said.

Friend and fellow musician Michel LeBlanc went to see McLaren in the hospital on Wednesday and said took some of comfort in what he saw.

“John’s in better shape than I expected,” said LeBlanc. “He’s annoyed about being in the hospital which is a good sign of health usually.”

LeBlanc said the issue started between the two men when Powers approached McLaren after the show. He said McLaren was trying to reason with Powers, but couldn’t.

Happy Craft Brewing Owner Gregg Corrigan declined an interview request with CTV News but in a statement he said he and his staff were grateful police made an arrest.

“We wish John a full recovery and hope to see him back on our small stage soon,” said Corrigan in an email.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for the McLarens. It raised close to $30,000 by Thursday afternoon.

“It’s absolutely overwhelming,” said Brittany. “It’s really made the difference. It’s really humbled us, all the people reaching out - hearing all the kind words people have to say about John. It’s really helped us get through this whole time.”

The couple have a 10-month-old son who has had his own health issues. Brittany said he’s had heart surgery and will have lifelong health issues.

“It has been really hard,” she said.

Arsenault helped the family the best he could by housesitting and watching their dog while they were away in Halifax.

Brittany said she expects her husband will recover to play guitar again.

“If anybody can do it, John can,” she said.

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