Police have charged a 40-year-old woman with attempted murder after a 54-year-old woman was held hostage at a nonprofit in Lethbridge, Alta., on Thursday.
Courtney Louise Shaw of Lethbridge was charged with one count of attempted murder along with multiple other charges on Friday. She is due in court on July 22.
Police said four employees were working at Lethbridge Legal Guidance on Thursday afternoon when a woman came in and asked to speak to a specific lawyer.
Lethbridge Legal Guidance, located in the 400 block of Fifth Street S., provides free legal assistance, information and advocacy to individuals experiencing financial hardship.
When she was told the attorney was not available, she asked to use the restroom, police said. After about 10 minutes, she came out and pointed a black airsoft gun at two of the officers and threatened to kill them, according to police.
Police said one officer was able to hide under a desk and call 911. The woman then allegedly pulled out a knife and threatened to kill the officers if they didn’t get the particular attorney on the phone.
The woman then forced a 54-year-old woman into an office and closed the door, after which the other three employees fled, police said. Police cordoned off the area, evacuated nearby businesses and advised other employees to shelter in place.
Lethbridge Police Chief Shaheen Mehdizadeh speaks to reporters during a media briefing on Friday. Lethbridge police have charged a 40-year-old woman with attempted murder in connection with an incident in which a 54-year-old woman was held hostage. (CBC News)
The police tactical team and crisis negotiators were deployed and police said they negotiated with the subject for about an hour. But due to an “imminent threat” to the hostage’s life, the tactical team entered the building, where they say they found the subject holding a knife.
The subject was taken into custody and police recovered a knife and a black airsoft gun at the scene. She was treated at the scene and later received stitches for lacerations to her arm.
The victim suffered serious injuries, police said, after being stabbed multiple times in the neck. EMS transported her to a hospital, where she is in stable condition.
Shaw is charged with the following:
- Attempt to kill.
- Aggravated assault.
- Taking a hostage.
- Use of an imitation firearm in the commission of a crime.
- Possession of a weapon dangerous to society.
- Four counts of unlawful imprisonment.
- Four counts of uttering threats.
- Three counts of assault with a weapon.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim, her family, her co-workers, every citizen of this city, all of our officers for this significant trauma that everyone has experienced,” Lethbridge Police Chief Shaheen Mehdizadeh said in a media briefing.
“There has been a huge outpouring of support from the community and I am grateful to everyone who reached out.”
“She has such a good heart”
Brad Poetker, youth pastor at The Gate Christian Church in downtown Lethbridge, said the victim was a member of the congregation, which has about 80 members.
The incident happened just a few blocks from the church, at Lethbridge Legal Guidance, where the woman works. Church members reached out to the woman via Facebook but did not hear back.
“Man, last night was a rough night,” Poetker said. “I’ll be honest, it was just heartbreaking to hear that, you know, she’s going through that.”
He said church members are praying for her recovery.
“She has such a good heart to highlight and sympathize with the people that, you know, she’s helped… [with] legal counsel there,” Poetker said. “She was always very, very willing and made it clear that she was there to help without judgment.”
Police said the investigation is ongoing.
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