Police in Nova Scotia have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with a Saturday morning stabbing that left a man paralyzed from the waist down.
New Glasgow police say a man has been charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault and possession of a weapon dangerous to public peace, in connection with an attack that occurred shortly before 2:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Friends have identified the victim as 27-year-old Scott Jones. They say they believe he was attacked because he is gay.
Amy Punke, Jones’ roommate, said the fear of being targeted because of his sexual orientation was something they had discussed.
"Things that he lives with and what many people live with when they live in fear of not being accepted," Punke, who has known Jones for years, told CTV News on Sunday.
"I’m still in disbelief and sad that things like this still happen."
She said Jones and a group of friends were out celebrating a gallery opening in downtown New Glasgow, when he was stabbed two blocks from a church.
"Two men approached Scott and his friend," Punke said. "One of the men distracted Scott's friend and the other man came up behind Scott and stabbed him in the back twice and then tried to slit his throat."
Jones, a well-known church organist and choir director at First Presbyterian Church in New Glasgow, is paralyzed from the waist down and is not expected to walk again, preliminary medical reports say.
Members of his church say they are in shock after the attack.
"There’s a numbness, there’s a frustration, there’s anger but also there’s a huge outpouring of love and concern right now," a member of the congregation told CTV News.
Police said they came across a man lying on the street near the back of a downtown bar in New Glasgow at around 2:30 a.m. during a routine patrol.
The man had been attacked and stabbed at least once, police said. He was transported to Aberdeen Hospital before being airlifted to the Queen Elizabeth Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, where he remains in critical, but stable condition.
New Glasgow police say there’s no evidence at this point to suggest the two men knew each other. They say the investigation is still in its preliminary stages and cannot comment if the attack was motivated by the victim’s sexual orientation.
"Evidence and interviews of potential witnesses who were at the scene are being conducted at this time," Const. Ken MacDonald said.
Shane Edward Matheson was arrested at around 11 p.m. Saturday, without incident. He has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Police say there are also weapons charges for an assault against an 18-year-old woman earlier in the evening. Police say there is no connection between the two incidents.
The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to contact the New Glasgow Regional Police at (902)752-1941 or Crime Stoppers.
With files from CTV Atlantic
