A 58-year-old man accused of killing a woman at a plaza in Mississauga on Friday also allegedly assaulted a 61-year-old man at a bus stop the same night.
Peel police revealed on Saturday new details on the two “random and unprovoked assaults” that occurred in the area of Dixie Road and Dundas Street East.
Officers were initially called to a plaza near the intersection for reports of an assault, and when they arrived, found a 55-year-old woman suffering from serious injuries, Peel police media relations officer Const. Taylor Halfyard told reporters in an update.
He said the victim was in a tent in front of an auction store when the suspect approached and assaulted her.
“She was trying to get there to be first in line for the following day,” Halfyard said.
The victim was taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead shortly after.
Halfyard said officers tracked the suspect and became engaged in a brief foot pursuit.
He was eventually arrested and on Saturday, was identified as 58-year-old Kent McKerron of no fixed address.
He has been charged with second-degree murder and aggravated assault.
The assault charge is in connection with an incident that happened half an hour before the homicide.
Halfyard said a 61-year-old man was waiting at a bus stop near the intersection when the same suspect assaulted him.
The victim was transported to the hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries, Halfyard said.
“What I can say is that both the assault on the victim at the bus stop as well as the assault on the victim who unfortunately succumbed to her injuries are both random, unprovoked assaults,” he said.
Halfyard noted that police did not learn about the bus stop assault until hours later.
Police previously said a weapon was recovered at the plaza, but they would not specify what it was.
The motive for the two assaults is unknown. Halfyard said the victims did not know the suspect.
“I can’t speak to his frame of mind at the time that this incident occurred. Obviously, these are very concerning and disturbing incidents, and we do have that individual in custody right now,” Halfyard said.
He added that police are taking the incidents “very seriously and that residents in the area should expect increased police presence as they investigate the two incidents.
“Now we understand how unsettling incidents like this can be. But please know that the person responsible for this incident here in Mississauga is in custody, and there is no active risk to our community at this time,” Halfyard said.
