Security company shares details of stabbing attack at Campbell River Walmart
The owner of a security company is clarifying the moments that led up to one of his employees being stabbed at the Campbell River Walmart Tuesday morning.
Vali Majd, CEO and director of JFT Security says a 60-year-old guard who has 25 years’ experience was coming to the assistance of another guard Tuesday morning and had just rounded a corner when he was stabbed.
“(The attacker) just jumped at him and stabbed him multiple times,” Majd says. “He was stabbed in the arm, in the upper chest, luckily he was wearing his vest.”
Majd says moments earlier a female guard noticed a 30-year-old man who had been previously banned from Walmart entering the store for the second time on Tuesday. He was ejected from the store, but then came back wearing a disguise and was approached again.
“He showed a knife and he said, ‘I’m going to stab you,’” Majd says. “She increased distance and got on the radio, passed on the transmission to our other guard who came around the corner face to face with him and he didn’t really get time to engage him.”
As the guard was bleeding, the suspect then went farther into the store and began gathering items.
“The fellow proceeded to go on his shoplifting spree, he went and grabbed a number of TVs and went out the door” Majd says.
JFT employs approximately 100 guards up and down the island and Majd says problems like this are occurring at many different venues.
“We make the difference between opportunist people, or people who have mental health issues and then in this case, something we refer to as organized crime,” he says.
He believes merchandise that is stolen ends up online or on Ebay or are taken to fulfil special orders.
“(The customer says), ‘I want a TV and a pair of sneakers,’ and these people go get it and either sell it at a discount rate or they trade it in,” Majd says. “The days of going and selling it at a pawn shop are long gone, because they know better and there are much easier ways to resell these products.”
Majd says the issue is a “complicated landscape” that needs changing.
“It starts with the courts,” he says. “Crown and prosecutors are not prosecuting, for example, shoplifting charges and so people are feeling more bold to take it to the next level and this is where we see the civility element rapidly (erode).”
Majd checked in on the guard Wednesday morning and says he is doing well and is anxious to return to work.
“He’s stable, he had to go through an emergency surgery last night when they realized it was a brachial artery that was hit,” Majd says. “He’ll be out for some time and he’s in good spirits. Hopefully he has no further complications.”
The suspect was arrested by Campbell River RCMP late Tuesday afternoon and was expected to make a court appearance on Wednesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
RCMP uncovers plot to sell drones and equipment to Libya
The RCMP says it has uncovered a plot by two men in Montreal to sell Chinese drones and military equipment to Libya illegally.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Demonstrators kicked out of Ontario legislature for disruption after failed keffiyeh vote
A group of demonstrators were kicked out of the legislature after a second NDP motion calling for unanimous consent to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh failed to pass.
BREAKING Man wanted in connection with deadly shooting in Toronto tops list of most wanted fugitives in Canada
A 35-year-old man wanted in connection with the murder of Toronto resident 29-year-old Sharmar Powell-Flowers nine months ago has topped the list of the BOLO program’s 25 most wanted fugitives across Canada, police announced Tuesday.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Cherry blossoms blooming in Canada: Here's what to know
There is a swaying sea of colour in some cities across Canada, and it's a sure sign of spring: cherry blossoms are in bloom.
Murder charges filed against U.S. woman who crashed into building hosting birthday party, killing 2 kids
A Michigan woman was charged Tuesday with second-degree murder and other crimes after prosecutors say she drunkenly smashed her SUV into a boat club that was hosting a birthday party, killing two young siblings and injuring several other people.
Toronto's police chief clarifies initial statement on Umar Zameer acquittal, says he 'accepts' jury's finding
Toronto's Chief of Police has clarified a statement that he'd hoped for "a different outcome" made just after Umar's Zameer acquittal, telling reporters Tuesday he supports and accepts the jury's finding in the five-week trial.