New details in two ‘unprovoked assaults’ in Mississauga that left woman dead, man seriously injured

A 61-year-old man was assaulted by the same suspect who has been arrested in the homicide of a woman in her 50s in Mississauga, police say.

A 58-year-old man accused of killing a woman at a plaza in Mississauga on Friday also allegedly assaulted a 61-year-old man at a bus stop the same night.

Peel police revealed on Saturday new details on the two “random and unprovoked assaults” that occurred in the area of Dixie Road and Dundas Street East.

Officers were initially called to a plaza near the intersection for reports of an assault and, when they arrived, found a 55-year-old woman suffering from serious injuries, Peel police media relations officer Const. Taylor Halfyard told reporters in an update.

• Woman in her 50s dead following assault at Mississauga plaza

He said the victim was in a tent in front of an auction store when the suspect approached and assaulted her.

“She was trying to get there to be first in line for the following day,” Halfyard said.

The victim was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after.

CTV News Toronto has viewed surveillance video that is believed to show the moment of the assault.

In the footage, a man with what appears to be a metal rod is seen speaking to a woman in a tent before walking past her.

Less than a minute later, he is seen returning and strikes the woman with the bar multiple times.

Halfyard said officers tracked the suspect and became engaged in a brief foot pursuit.

The suspect was eventually arrested and, on Saturday, was identified as 58-year-old Kent McKerron of no fixed address.

He has been charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault.

Bus stop assault

The assault charge is in connection with an incident that happened half an hour before the homicide.

Halfyard said a 61-year-old man was waiting at a bus stop near the intersection when the same suspect allegedly assaulted him.

The victim was transported to the hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries, Halfyard said.

“What I can say is that both the assault on the victim at the bus stop as well as the assault on the victim who unfortunately succumbed to her injuries are both random, unprovoked assaults,” he said.

Surveillance video viewed by CTV News Toronto shows the suspect with the metal rod hitting the man once before running away.

Halfyard noted that police did not learn about the bus stop assault until hours later.

The motive for the two assaults is unknown. Halfyard said the victims did not know the suspect.

Police previously confirmed that a weapon was recovered at the plaza, but they would not specify what it was.

“I can’t speak to his frame of mind at the time that this incident occurred. Obviously, these are very concerning and disturbing incidents, and we do have that individual in custody right now,” Halfyard said.

He added that police are taking the incidents “very seriously and that residents in the area should expect increased police presence as they investigate the two incidents.

“Now we understand how unsettling incidents like this can be. But please know that the person responsible for this incident here in Mississauga is in custody, and there is no active risk to our community at this time,” Halfyard said.

Command post set up

Police have set up a command post at Dundas Street East and Blundell Drive, and anyone with information about the incidents can visit and speak with officers.

“We believe that there may be additional victims and we are urging them to come forward,” Halfyard said.

Witnesses who were at the plaza or the intersection at 7:30 p.m. are also urged to call the police at 905-453-2121, extension 3205, or Crime Stoppers anonymously.

“These aren’t common incidents. I’ve been a police officer for 17 years now, and I can’t speak to too many of these that have occurred in my time as a police officer,” Halfyard said.

“I can assure the public that there was a quick police response to this, and thankfully, the officers who did respond were able to apprehend this individual immediately to prevent any further assaults.”

With files from CTV News Toronto’s Janice Golding