Victim outraged after Campbell River stabbing suspect found not guilty
Warning: This story contains graphic details.
A former security guard in Campbell River is outraged after the man suspected of stabbing him during a shoplifting incident in 2021 was cleared of all charges.
Ron Beaven was working as a security guard with his wife, Leanne Szaz, at the Walmart in Campbell River on Dec. 7, 2021, when he was stabbed multiple times.
The attack occurred when he asked a man to leave the store because he had been banned from the premises.
"Every time he comes, he was, 'I'm going to stick you and I'm going to kill you. I'm going to stab you.' It was every day," Beaven told CTV News on Monday.
Beaven and Szaz tried to stop the man from entering the store when he first arrived.
"I told him, 'You know you're not allowed in here. Get the hell out,'" said Szaz. "And he whips out a knife and says, 'I'll cut you."
Bodycam footage shows Beaven being stabbed multiple times as his wife rushes to his aid.
"He got me here, he got me three times in there, and two over here," said Beaven while pointing to his chest, arm and shoulder.
Meanwhlie, the man walked out of the store with five large televisions while blood poured from Beaven's body.
A suspect was arrested for the assault, but last week the couple learned that the man who was charged with the stabbing was found not guilty.
"He assaulted two big police officers," said Beaven. "He got off on everything he was up on charges for. How the hell do they allow that?"
The couple says the judge ruled that the man, who was known to police, could not be found guilty because he couldn't properly be identified.
"[It was] attempted murder, but oh no, wasn't enough evidence," said Beaven. "They've got film of me bleeding to death on the floor."
Szaz says the man was wearing a mask because of provincial health protocols during the pandemic. She adds that the knife was never recovered, meaning there was no DNA or fingerprint evidence to link the suspect to the crime.
The couple says they believe stores like Walmart need to take a stronger stance against thieves, and that Canada's justice system needs an overhaul.
"The store and our justice system does [nothing]," said Beaven. "It's all, 'Do what you want.'"
"How many people have to die or be hurt?" added Szaz. "It affects families, it alters their whole life forever, and I'm just one more voice, but how many voices is it going to take?"
The couple is now taking a much-needed break from security, trying to recover from an incident that took only moments, but will be with them for years to come.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
RCMP not investigating possible foreign interference cases related to Chiu, Dong: Duheme
Canada's federal police force is not investigating any possible instances of foreign interference in the cases of former Conservative MP Kenny Chiu and Liberal-turned-Independent MP Han Dong, RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme says.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Air France flight from Paris to Seattle lands in Iqaluit after heat smell in cabin
A plane travelling from Paris to Seattle was forced to make an emergency landing in Iqaluit after there was a heat smell in the cabin during the flight.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly for at least nine regular-season games Tuesday following its investigation into a lawsuit filed by a former strength-and-conditioning coach against both the player and club.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca