A woman in her 70s was fatally stabbed while unloading groceries into her car in North York on Thursday in what police say was an “unprovoked” attack.
Toronto police say officers found the woman with stab wounds after they were called to the area of Parkway Forest Drive and Sheppard Avenue E. at around 9:35 a.m.
“We do understand this is a very deeply concerning incident. It happened during the daytime hours in a busy plaza when many patrons were out simply just shopping, getting their groceries,” Duty Insp. Phil Sinclair told reporters Thursday afternoon.
The woman was rushed to hospital but later pronounced dead, police say.
Sinclair said the incident was an “unprovoked” attack, judging from surveillance video. He said the woman had come from a supermarket in the plaza.
At the scene, a car was seen with its trunk open and evidence markers all around near Iqbal Foods, the only grocery store at the plaza.
Police say they don’t know if there was any relationship between the victim and the suspect.
Sinclair told reporters that police believe there is no ongoing threat to the public. When asked how that’s possible considering no suspect has been located, he said police are taking the situation seriously.
“We do encourage you to be aware of your surroundings. We are treating this investigation with the utmost of seriousness,” he said.
Sinclair says a sharp weapon was used in the attack, possibly a knife.
Police are searching for a suspect who fled the scene, investigators said in a social media post.
He is described as a male between five-foot-seven and five-foot-ten-inches tall, wearing all dark clothing and a balaclava at the time of the stabbing, police say.
Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.
