Waterloo University Student Charged in Stabbing Attack: Police

Waterloo University Student Charged in Stabbing Attack: Police
Members of the Waterloo Regional Police investigate a stabbing at the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ont., Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Waterloo Regional Police said three victims were stabbed inside the university’s Hagey Hall, with one person was taken into custody. Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian Press
Marnie Cathcart
Updated:
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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.

Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) announced in a press release on June 29, that they have arrested a 24-year-old international student, who studied at the university at some point in time.

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.

Members of the Waterloo Regional Police investigate a stabbing at the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ont., Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Waterloo Regional Police said three victims were stabbed inside the university’s Hagey Hall, with a student suspect arrested. (Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian Press)
Members of the Waterloo Regional Police investigate a stabbing at the University of Waterloo, in Waterloo, Ont., Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Waterloo Regional Police said three victims were stabbed inside the university’s Hagey Hall, with a student suspect arrested. Nick Iwanyshyn/The Canadian Press
“We did have some concerns about the coordination of all the channels of communicating. So whereas some social media, university based accounts were putting messages out and web based communications were occurring, the coordination with our emergency incident alert system wasn’t activated as quickly as we would have normally expected,” said James Rush, vice-president academic and provost, speaking at a news conference on June 29 at police headquarters.

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.”

He disputed reports suggesting the alert system was not activated for 90 minutes, saying that was incorrect. Some students reported that it took hours to receive an emergency alert warning of the incident. One student said she wasn’t notified by the alert until three hours after the stabbing.

‘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.