Mother, 11-year-old child fatally stabbed in Edmonton; suspect shot by police

Family members of a woman and her 11-year-old child who were stabbed and killed in Edmonton have gathered with flowers and photos at a park near the scene of the attack.

Police have said it happened around suppertime Friday outside Crawford Plains School in the city’s southeast.

They said the 35-year-old woman was dead at the scene and the child later died in hospital.

Police say two officers responded and shot a man matching a description of the suspect after an altercation.

The man was in hospital in critical condition and Alberta’s police watchdog is investigating the shooting.

Police said they do not know if the suspect knew the woman and child.

Police say an altercation took place and both officers shot the suspect.

The suspect is in hospital with critical injuries.

The EPS Homicide Section is investigating the suspicious deaths of the woman and child.

— Elliott Knopp (@ElliottKnopp) May 6, 2023

Max Dow, 13, took a teddy bear to a makeshift memorial at the park on Saturday. Standing with his parents, he said he witnessed part of the attack.

“It was like right out of a horror movie.”

Scene of homicide near Crawford Plains School in Edmonton’s southeast on May 5, 2023. (Elliott Knopp/CityNews)

Relatives of the woman and child said they were not ready to speak publicly.

Edmonton Public Schools would not say if the slain child was a student at Crawford Plains.

“We know staff and students will need support following this tragic incident. The division’s Critical Incident Support Services team will be available at Crawford Plains School on Monday morning when classes resume,” said a statement.

United Conservative Party Leader Danielle Smith spoke about the killings on Twitter. “This is utterly tragic and my heart goes out to the entire family of the victims,” she wrote.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley also said in an online post that she was heartbroken: “I share the shock and sadness of our community.”