Police have arrested a university student in what they call a “hate-motived” stabbing that took place inside Hagey Hall at the University of Waterloo on June 28.
The suspect was held in custody overnight and made a court appearance on June 29. Police said they have recommended the suspect be remanded into custody without bail.
Geovanny Villalba-Aleman faces charges of three counts of aggravated assault, four counts of assault with a weapon, two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and mischief under $5,000. One teacher and two students were taken to hospital after being stabbed, and are in serious, but not life-threatening condition, according to police.
University officials stated that the emergency alert system did not activate as expected on the day of the stabbing, even though it was tested earlier that same day.
Rush said there “were a number of reasons” the alert system was delayed, and that it is a priority for the university to ensure the “technology elements of that system are more finely tuned in the future.”
The university official said, despite the “unfortunate delay”, the location of the incident “was localized,” and “communication that was in deficit would have been to the broader areas of the campus.” He said the delay in the alert system “didn’t impact the response to the incident itself.”
‘Motivated by Hate’
Mark Crowell, WRPS Chief of Police, said the stabbing was a planned, senseless act of violence “motivated by hate related to gender expression and gender identity.” He said the investigation is still ongoing and police have sought a court order to search the suspect’s home.Crowell said that police received “multiple 911 calls” from students and the first officers who appeared on the scene within three minutes located the accused male, and made an arrest. He said the accused had originally posed as a victim, but due to excellent descriptions from witnesses was apprehended.
According to police, the suspect, who has no prior criminal record, “specifically targeted a gender studies class” that had about 40 students inside the classroom.
“The accused was not a member of the class, but spoke with a professor in the classroom before attacking her with two large knives without provocation,” police said, adding the exchange was brief and consisted of the suspect asking what the class subject matter was.
According to police, several students attempted to stop the attack, while others fled the room. “Some actively tried to involve themselves and stop the attack. I applaud those who sought to stand up and intervene the best they could,” said Crowell.
“While students were trying to escape the accused stabbed two students and attempted to stab a third student who was not physically injured.”
A 38-year-old female teacher suffered serious but not life-threatening stab wounds and was transported to an out-of-region hospital, he said. Two students within the class were also stabbed and taken to hospital—a 20-year-old female, with serious, but not life-threatening wounds, and a 19-year-old male who sustained non-life threatening injuries.
