A man has been charged with murder in the death of a stabbing victim in Saint John, N.B., Monday night. The Saint John Police Force responded to the stabbing outside a liquor store in the Wellington Row area just before 8 p.m. Police found a 46-year-old man and a 44-year-old man at the scene. Both men were unconscious and had sustained serious injuries. The officers and bystanders administered first aid to the men before they were taken to hospital. The 46-year-old died from his injuries while the 44-year-old remains in hospital in serious condition. Police say the suspect, who had minor injuries, was arrested on scene. The 36-year-old man appeared in court Tuesday afternoon, where he was charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder. Police did not release his name. The accused was remanded into custody and is due back in court on March 24 at 1:30 p.m. A spokesperson for NB Liquor told CTV News three people were involved in an altercation outside of a store on Wellington Row. “We are cooperating with the Saint John Police, who are investigating the incident,” Tanya Greer told CTV News Atlantic in an email. Police say there were several witnesses in the area at the time and some businesses were still open. “What is concerning for the Saint John Police Force, any time there’s any sort of crime that is happening within our city we take it very seriously,” said Staff Sgt. Sarah Hobbs. “Public safety is paramount for us and we would advise the public to be aware of your surroundings and to be mindful or where you are and those that you’re interacting with.” Investigators couldn’t say whether the three people involved in the altercation had any previous history or if they were known to police. Police are asking anyone with information to call 1-506-648-3333. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Second altercation involving weapons within 24 hours Saint John police also responded to an altercation involving three men and an unspecified weapon on Sydney Street around 8:30 p.m. Sunday. Police say two men were taken to hospital, but have since been released. The suspect remains at large. “At this point there’s no correlation or believed to be a correlation between these two incidents,” said Hobbs. Saint John Deputy Mayor John MacKenzie says the assaults are concerning. “When this happens, it’s very hard on us and it affects us deeply,” he said. MacKenzie noted the city’s new Community Safety Services Team is working to prevent incidents like these. “The role is really to de-escalate situations,” he said. “If people are hanging around where they shouldn’t be and we’re getting complaints, they’ll go and use that relationship-building and connection to get them to move along.” City council is expected to receive an update on the Community Safety Services Team in April. With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Avery MacRae For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
