Gatineau senior stabbed while gardening
A 41-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after a stabbing attack on a senior gardening outside a retirement home in Gatineau, Que.
Gatineau police said they were called to Campus 3, a community organization and retirement residence, near boulevard Maloney E. in Lac-Beauchamp around 10:30 a.m. Monday.
An 81-year-old man was lying injured on the ground outside when officers arrived, police said. He was hospitalized in critical condition and police said he remained there Tuesday.
Alain Lavigne told Radio-Canada's Les matins d'ici the victim is his father Réjean Lavigne, a former public servant at Transport Canada and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
"I was more expecting to be told he had a heart attack or he had broken a hip … I didn't expect at attack like that," the son said in French.
Réjean Lavigne, 81, in an undated photo. He was critically injured in an attack near his retirement home on April 22, 2024. (Réjean Lavigne/Facebook)
The accused was arrested nearby and also faces aggravated assault and assault with a weapon charges. Police said they don't think the two knew each other.
The younger man police said is from Shawinigan, Que., is in custody and must appear in court again on May 7. A judge will then determine whether or not he can be released from custody.
Victim an 'exceptional volunteer'
Réjean Lavigne and another volunteer "were raking the ground, collecting leaves, preparing the ground for this summer's community garden" at the time, according to Campus 3 general manager Lémy Nguyen.
Nguyen said the 81-year-old is an "exceptional volunteer" and heavily involved with the residence where he lived for years.
"I always call him 'my eyes and ears' when I'm away," said Nguyen. "He takes care of the safety of the other elders here. He is there to help all the other vulnerable seniors."
Lémy Nguyen, the general director of Campus 3. (Camille Kasisi-Monet/Radio-Canada)
Nguyen said the Outaouais health authority set up a crisis team to help tenants and employees.
"Employees are stunned. We have a very close relationship with the tenants," she said.
The scene is about seven kilometres northeast of the city core.
