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A woman in her 70s was fatally stabbed while unloading groceries into her car in North York on Thursday in what police say was an “unprovoked” attack.
Toronto police say officers found the woman with stab wounds after they were called to the area of Parkway Forest Drive and Sheppard Avenue E. at around 9:35 a.m.
“We do understand this is a very deeply concerning incident. It happened during the daytime hours in a busy plaza when many patrons were out simply just shopping, getting their groceries,” Duty Insp. Phil Sinclair told reporters Thursday afternoon.
The woman was rushed to hospital but later pronounced dead, police say.
Sinclair said the incident was an “unprovoked” attack, judging from surveillance video. He said the woman had come from a supermarket in the plaza.
At the scene, a car was seen with its trunk open and evidence markers all around near Iqbal Foods, the only grocery store at the plaza.
Police say they don’t know if there was any relationship between the victim and the suspect.
Sinclair told reporters that police believe there is no ongoing threat to the public. When asked how that’s possible considering no suspect has been located, he said police are taking the situation seriously.
“We do encourage you to be aware of your surroundings. We are treating this investigation with the utmost of seriousness,” he said.
Some plaza-goers fearful
But some residents are worried.
Sruti Mohnty, who shops at the plaza weekly, says she was “freaked out” by the stabbing. Mohnty says she walks her two dogs with her mom every day.
“People are just going about their day and to think that someone can just come and kill you here, it’s a bit scary,” she said.
“We should be living in a safe country,” she said. “It makes me very sad to see anything happen to anyone living in the community.”
Nasrat Sarwary’s family doctor is in the plaza. He says he’s scared too.
“This area was very, very safe area. And people are very nice here too,” he said. ” I’m totally surprised.”
Sarwary says it’s especially shocking that the stabbing happened during the day time and in a busy plaza.
Male suspect fled scene on foot: police
Sinclair says a sharp weapon was used in the attack, possibly a knife.
Police are searching for a suspect who fled the scene, investigators said in a social media post.
He is described as a male between five-foot-seven and five-foot-ten-inches tall, wearing all dark clothing and a balaclava at the time of the stabbing, police say.
Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.