HALIFAX — The woman accused of stabbing a six-year-old boy in downtown Halifax Sunday was known to police and had recently been arrested for an assault alleged to have occurred in late January.
Halifax Regional Police spokesman Const. Martin Cromwell told reporters Monday the boy was with his parents when he was stabbed. He was rushed to hospital with what police have described as life-threatening injuries, but Cromwell declined to comment further on his condition.
"This is a very, very tragic incident," Cromwell said of the stabbing. "The victim is a little boy."
Police were called at around 1:20 p.m. to Barrington Street just north of the busy downtown core, where a child had been found suffering from multiple stab wounds.
Cromwell said the suspect, 19-year-old Elliott Chorny, was arrested at the scene within minutes of police receiving the call. He said there's no evidence to suggest Chorny knew the child, nor is there evidence that it was a hate crime.
Chorny appeared in Halifax provincial court Monday afternoon to face charges of attempted murder and possession of a dangerous weapon. She was remanded to custody until her next court date on March 13.
Court documents show that Chorny is alleged to have assaulted a woman on Jan. 27 in Halifax. The charge was sworn last Tuesday, and at that time, Chorny was listed as having no fixed address.
"The accused was known to police," Cromwell said. "To what degree, I would not be able to detail." He declined to say if Chorny is homeless.
Cromwell also declined to say what police have learned about the moments leading up to the stabbing, but he acknowledged that there is a bus stop near where the stabbing took place. When asked if the child and his parents were waiting for a bus when the stabbing happened, Cromwell said he "can't say specifically what their intentions were."
The police are asking potential witnesses to come forward with any information they may have. Cromwell is also asking for dash-camera footage from cars that drove by at the time of the stabbing.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2025.
The Canadian Press
