A Toronto woman is facing a charge of attempted murder after she allegedly stabbed a stranger multiple times on a TTC streetcar, leaving them with what police are calling life-changing injuries.
Police responded to the area of Spadina and Sussex avenues just after 2 p.m. Tuesday for a call involving a knife in a vehicle.
When they arrived, officers found a 23-year-old woman suffering from stab wounds to her head and face as a result of being slashed “multiple times.” She was rushed to hospital with “life-changing injuries”, police said.
The suspect, who police identified Wednesday as 43-year-old Leah Valdez, remains at the scene after the incident and is in custody.
She is charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace, and possession of a prohibited or restricted weapon knowing that possession is unauthorized.
Valdez was scheduled to appear in a Toronto courtroom Wednesday morning.
Police said Valdez and her alleged victim did not know each other.
Over the past few months, the TTC has played host to a number of violent and sometimes accidental incidents.
In front of reporters on the ground, Insp. Lori Kranenburg said the Toronto Police Service is “aware that there are ongoing safety issues with the TTC.”
“We are working to increase our presence in the system, but as others have said before, we can’t be everywhere at all times,” Kranenburg said. “So we’re just asking people to continue to be aware of your surroundings and if you see anything, report it and then we’ll respond and investigate appropriately.”
Earlier this month, the TTC board voted to approve a proposed $2.38 billion budget that includes, among other things, millions of dollars to hire new special police officers to increase safety.
Meanwhile, the president of the Amalgamated Transit Union of Canada said Wednesday that violent attacks on transit networks across the country have reached “crisis levels” and called for a national task force to address the problem.
“The increase in violence is becoming more and more problematic… It is only a matter of time, unfortunately, before these injuries become catastrophic and begin to claim lives. We have to act now, not tomorrow, now,” John DiNino said, pointing to Tuesday’s stabbing as well as the incident in which two TTC employees were chased through a subway station by a syringe-wielding suspect.
DiNino added that the task force should include all levels of government and transit agencies from across the country and consider whether de-escalation training, harsher penalties, increased mental health funding, better housing supports and a greater police presence can help prevent violence in transit.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed Tuesday’s incident to contact them at 416-808-1400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477) or www.222tips.com.
With files from CP24’s Joshua Freeman
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