Stabbing victim died protecting his son, family says
The 47-year-old man killed in Overbrook early Sunday was a devoted father who died trying to save his son from an unprovoked attack, say family members.
Steven Butler was at home when the family heard a commotion outside, his cousin, Cindy Ross, said Monday.
Butler was stabbed after he rushed outside to protect his son Bradley, 22, who also received stab wounds to his abdomen, shoulder and face.
He remained in hospital in intensive care, Ross said.
Ottawa police say they responded to reports of a disturbance at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday outside 227 Whitton Cres., near the intersection of Vanier Parkway and Coventry Road, where they found Butler with a life-threatening stab wound to the chest. Butler was taken to hospital, where he died.
Police arrested several people in the area. On Monday, three people were formally charged via video link in Ottawa court.
Nick Vanasse, 19, was charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault. Braelen Stevens, 19, and Shawn Leblanc, 19, were also charged with aggravated assault.
Vanasse remained in jail awaiting his next court appearance. Leblanc and Stevens were released on bail with conditions requiring them to live with a surety, follow the house rules, keep the peace and show up for court. Their bail conditions also prohibit them from possessing firearms.
“Would that include paintball guns?” Stevens asked.
“Yes,” Justice of the Peace Herb Kreling told the teen.
Leblanc and Stevens are also banned from going anywhere near the Butler family or any witnesses in the deadly Sunday attack.
Cindy Ross said Butler’s youngest son Brady, 17, had gone to a convenience store for snacks early Sunday and was on his way home when he was approached by a group of people who started to shove him. One was armed with a pellet gun. After Brady arrived home, older brother Bradley went outside and asked the group to leave them alone. Butler’s wife, Nicole, went to the window to see what was going on and shots were aimed at her, Ross said.
Steven Butler rushed outside and was attacked. He fell to the ground. Bradley went to help his father.
Nicole went outside and found her husband bleeding. Butler apparently believed he had been shot and asked his wife to call 911, but the injury proved to be a stab wound, Cindy Ross said.
This is the second tragedy to strike the Butler family in less than two years. Their middle son, Butchy, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at birth. For many years, the family commuted between North Bay and Ottawa, where Butchy was being treated at CHEO. Butchy’s hospital stays would stretch up to a year at a time, so the family decided to move to Ottawa, said Butler’s aunt, Laura Ross.
Butchy died last year at the age of 18. The family, which did not have insurance, is still struggling to pay those funeral costs and friends have created a GoFundMe page to help them out.
“Their bond as a family is unbelievable,” said Cindy Ross, who describes Steven Butler as a “gentle soul” who kept to himself and wanted nothing more than to live a quiet life with his family.
Family members describe Butler as a kind, gentle and humble man with a love of the outdoors and his family and who held great pride in his Algonquin heritage. Butler sought work at the Wabano Centre so he could support his family and give back to the Indigenous community. This summer, the Butler family was together at the Pikwàkanagàn pow wow, where he was invited to drum in the sacred circle.
“It was really a big honour,” Cindy Ross said.
“Steven liked to fill his time with the things that were closest to his heart. He loved taking trips to Mattawa to fish with his dad, Alex, he loved hunting with his good friend, Mike, who said, ‘I admired how you were so proud that you were following our ways again. You truly were a man of wisdom.’ ”
Cindy Ross said Butler was ready to go back to work and was contemplating moving back to his hometown of Mattawa.
Butler is survived by wife Nicole, sons Bradley and Brady, son Alex and daughter Sarah from a previous marriage, mother Linda Paquette and stepfather Marc Paquette and his father, Alex, and stepmother Lillian Thomas.
The police investigation continues.