PICKERING — Residents of a Pickering, Ont., neighbourhood are mourning an elderly woman who was the victim of an apparently random stabbing outside her home Thursday afternoon, as police say a 14-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder in her death.
Durham Regional Police said the attack happened in the area of Lynn Heights Drive and Fairport Road around 3 p.m. Thursday, and a passerby found the woman on the ground.
The woman was taken to a Toronto-area trauma centre where she was pronounced dead, police said. Pickering Mayor Kevin Ashe confirmed the woman was in her 80s. Her name has not been released.
Brian Fredericks, who lives across the street from the victim, called her a "lovely lady" whom he had known for 32 years.
"Totally heartbroken, couldn’t understand why would someone do that ... very sad," he said, adding she was “the best neighbour you want to have.”
She took care of her husband who has mobility issues and uses a wheelchair, Fredericks said.
"We often admired her courage and her ability to take care of him."
Laurie Deoliveira, who lives in the neighbourhood, said she laid flowers outside the victim's home Friday morning to show "she meant something to us." The woman was a retired teacher and would decorate her home every season, Deoliveira said, which was something her children loved to see.
"We live in a safe community. It's not a normal thing to happen," Deoliveira said.
Police announced the suspect's arrest Thursday night, hours after an emergency alert was issued warning nearby residents not to leave their homes while the search for him was underway.
The 14-year-old suspect, who police had initially said was 13, was arrested "without incident" around 8:30 p.m., officials said. He faces a charge of first-degree murder.
Police have called the incident a "sadistic and cowardly unprovoked attack."
Sgt. Joanne McCabe told a press conference Friday morning that there was a "brief conversation" between the suspect and victim before the stabbing.
"At this point, we can't find any connection between the two of them," McCabe said.
She added police are investigating reports from community members that the suspect was allegedly spotted in the neighbourhood in the days before the attack.
"We're looking into the reports that people are saying that he was in the area," McCabe added, noting that anyone with information is asked to contact investigators.
Mayor Kevin Ashe said in a phone interview Friday that the incident has shaken the community, and the city has to come together and heal.
Several bouquets of flowers were laid outside the victim's home on Friday, with cards expressing condolences and calling her "a beautiful soul that was taken too soon."
"It's very unfortunate, the circumstances of how one family has been torn apart because of the senseless violence," Ashe said.
"When one of our community is suffering or grieving, the whole community does."
Ashe added that he met with the victim's family on Friday and said they are in "total shock."
Community members had previously planned a vigil for the woman for Friday night, but Ashe said it had been cancelled.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
Sharif Hassan and Rianna Lim, The Canadian Press
