Police charge male with aggravated assault in connection with stabbing

MEDIA RELEASE

Lethbridge Police have charged a 21-year-old male with aggravated assault in connection with an incident early Sunday morning where two people were stabbed outside a bar.

On March 17, 2024 at approximately 1:52 a.m., police responded to a report that a male and female had been injured during an altercation between two groups in the Top Hat parking lot along the 1000 block of Mayor Magrath Drive South. Investigation determined a 21-year-old female and several friends had attended the club and were confronted in the parking lot by a 21-year-old male and multiple associates. The male subject, who was previously involved in a relationship with the female, proceeded to stab her. A 26-year-old male attempted to intervene to assist the female and was subsequently stabbed, then run over by a vehicle. The female victim attended Chinook Regional Hospital prior to police arrival and was admitted for treatment of significant injuries. EMS transported the male victim to CRH and he was later airlifted by STARS to a Calgary Hospital in critical condition. Both victims were stabbed multiple times and remain in hospital.

Just before 2 a.m. police located a blue Dodge Ram truck reported to be associated with the incident and initiated a traffic stop a few blocks from the bar. The driver and five passengers were later released without charges. At approximately 11:07 a.m. members of the Blood Tribe Police Service located the 21-year-old male inside a gold Dodge Caravan on the Blood Reserve. He was arrested without incident and transported to Lethbridge. Both vehicles have been seized.

The investigation is ongoing and police are asking anyone who witnessed this incident to call 403-328-4444 and reference file 24004782.

A 21-year-old male, of Stand Off, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of assault with a weapon and one count each of obstructing a peace officer and possession of a dangerous weapon. He is currently in custody awaiting a Judicial Interim Release Hearing.

As this matter involves domestic violence, the name of the offender is being withheld in order to protect the identity of the victim.