An incident in a Mississauga plaza parking lot sent one man to hospital while a second is sought
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It is amazing how people’s lives can change in a split second.
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It’s a nice new plaza with amazing restaurants and stores on the border of Mississauga and Oakville where families congregate for a great meal or shopping experience. It’s genuinely a happy place.
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But in 2023 you just never know when ugliness and nastiness will ensue. It can happen at the drop of a hat and when you least expect it.
This is what occurred at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
“A simple roadway dispute turned into serious criminal offence that could have ended in the loss of life,” said Peel Regional Police Deputy Chief Marc Andrews.
It was almost a homicide. It could very easily have turned into one.
Yet, seconds before, the two people involved did not know each other. Now one is fighting for his life in hospital and the other the subject of a police manhunt.
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“Police responded to several 911 calls for a stabbing incident in the plaza parking lot near Eglinton Avenue West and Ridgeway Drive in Mississauga,” Peel police said, adding that they “arrived on the scene and located a man who had been stabbed.”
What prompted it?
As Andrews said, it appears to be a road-rage incident. People mouthing off at each other over very little in a parking lot. But tempers can flare, weapons can come out and people can be hurt as a result.
A man was stabbed here, allegedly by a man who fled on foot.
“He is described as a male in his early 20s, 5-foot-5, with black curly hair” and “wearing a black sweater and black sweatpants,” said police, who released some strong images of the suspect.
The wounds are said to be serious but non life-threatening. The victim remains in hospital. The suspect remains at large.
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“The culprit should seek legal counsel and turn himself in,” advised Andrews.
He’s right. They have his picture. They are going to catch him anyway. If you know who this is, call Peel’s 11 Division or Crime Stoppers.
Now, I know what you may be thinking. Why are you writing on this? There are incidents like this every day, in every part of the GTA. This is true. But it’s like the broken windows theory. If we ignore every story that does not involve death, we end up getting more violence. We can’t cover them all. But when we can, we should.
Someone could have died here. But since no one did, this incident may likely fade into obscurity. It should not. There are too many knives being used and too many guns – all over disputes that should not be taking place. Instead of people being angry and flipping each other off, people would be better off to calm down and display patience.
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Easier said than done. But it is a good reminder for everybody. Sometimes it’s better to take a breath before reacting than have it be your last one because of someone who may stab or shoot or run over you.
Meanwhile, Andrews and his team are all over this. When they make the arrest, I will follow it up. Over at the scene Thursday all that remained from this incident was the yellow police tape.
But it’s a reminder of how things can go quickly south when one man in a fast muscle-type car rolled into the lot at a high rate of speed, almost hitting people in the parking lot.
It’s infuriating how some people drive and parking lots are so dangerous – especially for children being walked by parents from the car to the business.
Lives can be lost or changed in an instant.
WARMINGTON: Road rage-turned-stabbing reminds how fast lives can change - Toronto Sun
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