Senior stabbed in random confrontation

The busy entrance of the Wetaskiwin Walmart became the scene of a random attack that left a 75-year-old man with life-threatening injuries on Thursday evening.

RCMP say the senior was stabbed in broad daylight in front of multiple people, and may have only survived because an off-duty nurse and an off-duty paramedic happened to be in the area and provided immediate medical assistance.

“It’s very concerning,” said RCMP Const. Holly Porterfield. “It’s very sad that it was an elderly gentleman. Anybody having to go through this is very surprising and concerning.”

Porterfield said the senior was leaving the Walmart at about 5 p.m. Thursday when he dropped his car keys, and another man quickly moved in and picked them up.

The man then refused to give the keys back, and when the senior reached to put his hand on the suspect’s shoulder, he was stabbed.

“I think it was all over before (the victim) even knew what happened,” Porterfield said.

The suspect fled the scene in another vehicle, and was arrested later by RCMP.

Steven Morris Firingstoney, 31, faces charges including aggravated assault, robbery and possession of stolen property.

RCMP say the victim was taken to Wetaskiwin hospital, and later moved to a hospital in Edmonton because of the severity of his injuries. He remains in intensive care in what is considered to be serious condition.

The two men did not know each other. Porterfield said drugs were believed to have been a factor in the assault.

Firingstoney is slated to appear in court June 9.