Mother, child fatally stabbed in southeast Edmonton; suspect shot by police
A mother and 11-year-old child were fatally stabbed on Friday near Crawford Plains School.
A thirteen-year-old boy told CTV News Edmonton he saw "a strange looking man" approach the family and attack them.
"It was really scary," Max Dow said the next day. "That's going to probably be in my head for years and years."
"I just came home and I told my family and my older brother called the police."
A person matching the description of their attacker was shot by police three blocks away, multiple sources first told CTV News Edmonton.
Jenn Camphius and Daniel Sinclair said they saw the shooting from their living room window.
"Right in front of our walkway, there was a police officer with an assault rifle. It all happened so fast," Sinclair said. "I'm just getting worked up talking about it. I can still feel it in my chest.
"It's pretty traumatizing."
A police officer with a gun can be seen from inside a home 46 Street and 12 Avenue in Edmonton. Nearby lies the body of a man, suspected of killing a woman and her child nearby earlier that day, who had been shot by police. (Supplied)Edmonton Police Service confirmed the deaths and police shooting after midnight, saying they were called to Crawford Plains School at 4:52 p.m.
"It was reported to police that an unknown male attacked and stabbed two people before fleeing the area on foot," EPS said in a statement.
"A male matching the description of the suspect was located a short time later by two other responding officers in the area of 46 Street and 12 Avenue. An altercation took place and both officers subsequently discharged their firearms, striking the suspect."
The 35-year-old woman died at the scene. Her child died in hospital.
Family have identified the pair as Carolann Robillard and Sara, who often went by Jayden.
The suspect shot by police was critically injured and remained in hospital as of early Saturday morning.
Investigators on Friday closed the area, as well as a portion of the school's field.
The homicide unit is investigating the mother and child's deaths.
Police said it is "not clear whether the suspect was known to them."
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team will be investigating the police shooting.
A crowd gathered at a vigil at Crawford Plains School in Edmonton for a mother and child killed in Mill Woods on May 6, 2023. (John Hanson/CTV News Edmonton)The couple said they weren't sure what had happened nearby until later that night when people started posting about the killings on social media.
"The rumor mill was what unfortunately ended up being true," Sinclair said. "We just knew what happened here. We didn't want to believe that."
"Our thoughts go out to the families. It's an absolute terrible situation," Camphius added.
A vigil for the victims was held at the Crawford Plains School Saturday afternoon.
People lit candles and tied red ribbons and feathers to the posts of a teepee at the park. Dow brought a large teddy bear for the memorial, and other people laid flowers, pictures and toys down.
Donna Robillard, Carolann's mother, was at the vigil with family and friends.
"It's very hard, because other people I know that lost their kids or their daughter, now I know the pain they're going through," she said.
"Why my daughter, why my granddaughter?" she added.
The family declined to speak about the incident or the investigation, as they are in mourning, but Donna did say that another one of her granddaughters is dealing with trauma from witnessing the attack.
"She's only eight years old, and she's really hurting big time."
An Edmonton Public Schools representative said a Critical Incident Support Services team will be providing counselling and support at the school on Monday when classes resume.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Liberals table GST holiday legislation, putting $250 rebate on backburner
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's promised holiday consumer relief package has been split in half. After NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said his party was only ready to help pass the GST/HST holiday portion of the affordability announcement, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland tabled legislation Wednesday that only seeks to enact that measure.
Missing hiker found alive after 50 days in northern B.C. wilderness
A missing hiker who spent 50 days alone in the frozen wilderness of northern British Columbia has been found alive.
'They alone are responsible': No deal yet in Canada Post strike
The Canada Post strike is expected to continue as parties remain 'too far apart on critical issues' to reach a deal, according to Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon.
Boeing plane makes emergency landing at Montreal's Mirabel airport after landing gear malfunction
No injuries were reported after a Boeing 737 was forced to divert to Mirabel airport after the aircraft experienced a technical issue with the landing gear.
Two Canadians arrested for failed murder plot in California
Two men who travelled from Canada to Monterey County have been arrested and accused of attempted murder after a triple-stabbing Sunday.
Ontario to match GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax on some items
Ontario says it will match the federal government’s two-month GST holiday by removing provincial sales tax (PST) from items that are not currently covered by existing provincial rebates.
Montreal billionaire Robert Miller could have as many as 100 victims, lawyer says
A Quebec judge is hearing arguments this week in a class-action lawsuit application against Montreal billionaire Robert Miller over allegations he paid minors for sex.
Hyundai recalling hundreds of thousands of cars and SUVs in Canada, U.S.
Hyundai is recalling hundreds of thousands of SUVs and small cars in the U.S. and Canada because the rearview camera image may not show up on the screens.
Woman accused in drowning of girl on Alberta lake denied bail
The woman accused in the drowning death of a five-year-old girl in an Alberta lake has been denied bail.