14-year-old boy charged with first-degree murder in fatal stabbing of elderly Pickering woman

A 14-year-old boy has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of an elderly woman who was brutally and unprovokedly stabbed to death in front of her home in Pickering, Ontario, east of Toronto, according to Durham Regional Police.

The incident happened around 3 p.m. on a quiet street in Pickering. According to police, the woman was busy in her yard on Lynn Heights Drive when she was attacked by a teenage boy who she did not appear to know.

“After a brief confrontation, the suspect attacked her in a brutal and cowardly manner, an attack that was captured on surveillance camera,” Police Chief Peter Moreira said Thursday.

The victim was taken to a hospital but sadly died.

A local lockdown was imposed in the wake of the incident, and police were searching for the suspect. Out of concern for public safety, Pickering city centers and programs were closed Thursday evening.

Police were able to arrest the suspect without incident at 8:30 p.m. The teenager is a Pickering resident and cannot be identified due to his young age.

Neighbors of the victim, who are deeply affected by the incident, described the woman as a kind and loving retired teacher in her 80s who had lived in the neighborhood for decades. Some say she may have been attacked while gardening.

“It’s really upsetting,” said neighbor Shedia Seraw-Fredericks.

“We saw how she was taking care of her sick husband,” the victim’s family said.

Suspect who drew attention

At a news conference Friday morning, Sergeant Joan McCabe said there was no connection between the suspect and the victim and that the attack was still being investigated as a random attack.

Some neighbors reported seeing a teenager in suspicious clothing in the area a few days before the incident.

Seraw-Fredericks also said that shortly before the incident, she and her daughter saw someone walking around the neighborhood wearing black gloves and a long raincoat.

“It was unusual to see someone wearing that kind of clothing at that time of day.”

Before his arrest, the suspect was seen wearing a surgical mask, a long black coat and a black bag.

McCabe added that some local residents tried to help the victim after the attack:

“We appreciate all of them. The victim’s family appreciates the efforts. This incident will be in the memory of this neighborhood for a long time.”

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