Brian Berland, of the Cold Lake First Nation, died after being attacked while out walking in the Homesteader neighborhood with his sister, Jamie, and her dog, Meatball. “I would like to extend EPS’s condolences to the family and friends of the victim,” said Acting Supt. Brent Dahlseide with the EPS Criminal Investigations Division. Two other people – a 32-year-old and a 41-year-old – were seriously injured in the attacks. Police said both were taken to hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Read more: 1 dead, 2 injured in north Edmonton stabbing. suspect arrested after manhunt
Story continues below ad Police said a male suspect initially approached the 32-year-old woman at a bus stop in the area of Hermitage Street and Henry Avenue NW and stabbed her. The second woman was stabbed minutes later in her tent, which was a short distance away in a wooded area, police said. Dahlseide said police believe the suspect and the woman stabbed at the scene were known to each other, but he did not know how they had known each other or for how long. Police said the 38-year-old was fatally stabbed. “Our deceased was stabbed multiple times and died at the scene,” Dahlseide said. 6:05 Edmonton police share details of deadly north side stabbing spree The suspect then fled the area on foot. (More on the police investigation below). Story continues below ad
The man who was killed was a ‘hero’, the family says
Berland’s brother-in-law, Allen Frost, told Global News that a man came out of a nearby wooded area as Berland and Jamie were walking in the area. “He didn’t really say anything, he just started attacking Brian and (Brian) said to my wife, Jamie, ‘Run, Jamie, run. I am going!’ And so Jamie ran and died there,” Frost said Thursday morning from the crime scene. “He is a hero. Brian saved Jamie’s life and we are all grateful for that and he didn’t die for nothing.” Frost said that Berland was his children’s favorite uncle and that he would never hurt anyone. Allen Frost talks about his brother-in-law Brian Berland, who was killed Wednesday, September 7, 2022 in random attacks in north Edmonton. Global News Frost said his wife is injured. They hope to find out why it happened. Story continues below ad “It’s so tragic right now for us,” he said. “We just want to know answers. It’s terrible for everyone involved.” The family’s dog, Meatball, ran away during the ordeal. Frost said his children and family are desperate for the dog’s safe return. “I hope that if anyone knows where he is or has seen him, they bring him back to us.” 4:551 dead, 2 injured in north Edmonton stabbing. suspect arrested after manhunt 1 dead, 2 injured in north Edmonton stabbing. suspect arrested after manhunt Sharon Favel is Berland’s aunt. She said her entire family is in shock, trying to cope with what happened. “We’re all still trying to deal with it. It’s very hard for all of us, especially for his mother,” Favel said. She described Berland as a good and kind man, who was much loved by all his family. Story continues below ad “Brian was a loving person who would never hurt anyone. It is so devastating… this random act of violence in our city. And it touched us all because of what just happened in Saskatchewan and all the loss of life,” Favel said. “For it to happen here with us, it was very difficult.” Family pet, Meatball, who ran away in the chaos of the incident, September 7, 2022. Provided to Global News Luis Padilla was driving to his rental property in the neighborhood around 2:25 p.m. Wednesday when he saw the attack happen and tried to help Berland. He said he was waiting to turn at the intersection when he saw three people. He said a man wearing a black hoodie pulled over a man walking a dog and punched him. He said a fight ensued. Padilla said he got out of his vehicle and ran toward the group when the suspect took off running toward 50th St. He said Berland was trying to cross the street, but his legs were giving out. Story continues below ad “He was walking and unresponsive. I went out, grabbed him by the arm. I tried to keep him awake and I tried to help him, to tell him everything is going to be okay, the cops are coming and the ambulance, stay with me, stay with me,’” Padilla recalled. “I wasn’t really sure what was wrong with him until I saw behind his back there was a big pool of blood.” Padilla said the woman with him was screaming and yelling his name, “Brian!” Padilla said he sat with the man until police arrived. “The gentleman died right in front of me here,” Padilla said. “I couldn’t do (anything) for him, unfortunately. It happened so fast and so unreal. I’ve just never experienced anything like this in my life.” Padilla said he hopes the man knew he was there with him. “It’s a terrible, terrible thing to experience. To see someone who 15 seconds ago was perfect and suddenly died,” he said. “My face was the last thing he saw… I hope he knew I was there. I feel really bad for his family.” Police remained at the scene Thursday morning, with a cruiser parked near the wooded area where Frost said the suspect got out. The area leads to some bushes where a homeless encampment was surrounded by police tape on Thursday morning. Story continues below ad A homeless encampment is surrounded by police tape Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022, a day after police said one person was killed and two were seriously injured in random attacks in Edmonton’s Homesteader neighborhood. Global News
Police describe the situation as “dynamic” and “chaotic”
People in the area were told to evacuate for several hours Wednesday after police said there was a man in the area with a knife. Several schools in the area were placed on alert, with doors locked and no one allowed in or out. Story continues below ad Dahlseide said police resources from across Edmonton were brought in to help manage the situation, including frontline officers, canine and tactical units, as well as surveillance units. Officers were also placed inside the schools to assist with the evolving situation and help reunite children with their parents after the alerts were lifted. “With these horrific types of events, there are many pieces at play — things that unfold quickly — and numerous resources that go into how we manage each situation and how we respond to it,” he explained. “It was quite a dynamic and at times chaotic event and I have to commend our team on how they managed the incident and how they responded, ensuring that public safety, obviously, was paramount.” 1:13 Edmonton police say stabbing information was shared quickly to reduce stress Around 6pm on Wednesday, police announced they had arrested 25-year-old Clarence Lawrence. He was taken into custody by police in the area of 50th Street and 122nd Avenue in the Newton area without incident. Story continues below ad Dahlseide said he did not know if a gun was found with the suspect or at any of the crime scenes. He said the suspect was taken to the hospital for a medical and psychological evaluation. He remained in custody overnight and was questioned on Thursday. “At this point we don’t want to try to speculate on a motive as to why this happened without knowing more about the individual himself,” Dahlseide said, “if he even existed.” Clarence Lawrence, 25, was arrested by police following a fatal stabbing in the Homesteader neighborhood of north Edmonton on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Dahlseide said the accused is known to police. Court records show Lawrence has convictions dating back to 2017, including possession of a substance, obstructing a peace officer, possession for the purpose of trafficking and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle. Story continues below ad Police said more information will be released once charges are filed. “The person will face many charges. We’ll know what it will be for sure after the interview process as we go through the rest today,” Dahlseide said. 1:20 Edmonton police to keep community safe after stabbings An autopsy is scheduled for Friday, according to police. Frost said a vigil is planned at the north Edmonton scene at 5 p.m. Thursday. Related News © 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
