Man in custody after serious assault on girl, 6
Victim found injured in woods Saturday on Paul First Nation
The family of a six-year-old girl is gathered at her bedside at the Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton, after the girl was critically injured in a serious assault on the Paul First Nation Saturday afternoon.
RCMP arrested a man on Sunday in relation to the assault but have not yet released his name, age or any charges. RCMP Const. Kathleen Fossen couldn’t confirm if the suspect was related or known to the young girl, but said investigators aren’t looking for any other suspects.
“There’s no need for the community to be afraid,” she said.
She said RCMP would release more information once the suspect is formally charged. Global News Edmonton quoted unnamed family members as saying the girl was found naked in the woods, so severely injured she was almost unrecognizable.
STARS Air Ambulance spokeswoman Kady Hobbins said medical crews responded to the Paul Band First Nation at about 4:15 p.m. Saturday, for a call about a six-year-old girl with injuries from blunt trauma. The girl was airlifted to hospital in Edmonton in critical condition.
RCMP described her condition on Sunday as critical but stable.
Paul First Nation Chief Casey Bird was also on his way to the hospital Sunday morning to be with the girl and her family.
“I don’t know the details but I know something terrible happened,” he told the Journal. He said he and his children said a prayer for the injured girl. “My little boys go to school with that little girl,” he said. “Real sad. A sad day for everybody there, shocking and sad.”
Dennis Paul, a band member, said police have taped off a large area around the local gas station and a home on the reserve. “It’s just devastating,” said Paul. “It’s rough. It’s really rough.”
“It’s just devastating. It’s rough. It’s really rough.” BAND MEMBER DENNIS PAUL
A statement released by the Paul First Nation on Sunday asked that the girl’s family be given privacy, “so they can focus all of their energy, attention and prayers on the victim’s immediate well-being and what we are all HOPING and PRAYING will be a speedy and full recovery.”
The Paul Band First Nation is located along Wabamun Lake about 100 kilometres southwest of Edmonton. jpruden@edmontonjournal.com estolte@edmontonjournal.com Twitter: @jana_ pruden Twitter: @estolte