Banff’s 2nd fatal stabbing in a month leaves ‘community in mourning’

WARNING: This story accommodates a picture that some might discover distressing.

Since no less than 1998, Banff has solely seen two homicides. These got here within the final 4 weeks.

Shortly after midnight on Saturday, one man was killed exterior of the Dancing Sasquatch nightclub on Banff Avenue.

Banff RCMP responded to a 911 name {that a} man had been stabbed following an altercation exterior of the institution within the 100 block of Banff Avenue round 12:09 a.m.

Upon arrival, RCMP discovered the 27-year-old male, from Foothills County, Alta. He was transported to hospital the place he was declared lifeless.

Two males had been taken into custody at a close-by location.

Police additionally mentioned this incident is unrelated to the deadly altercation that occurred exterior the identical nightclub that left a 26-year-old man lifeless in August and a 22-year-old man taken into custody.

Regardless of the current violence, RCMP mentioned Saturday afternoon that it believes there isn’t any additional concern for the protection of most of the people.

However some residents are nonetheless shaken.

Man allegedly tried to interrupt into close by dwelling earlier than arrest

Natalie Zammit lives in Banff — just some blocks away from the place the latest deadly altercation passed off.

She mentioned one of many males finally arrested by police fled the scene of the altercation and tried to cover out in her residence. 

Zammit mentioned she acquired off the bed, went to the door, and that is when she seen somebody making an attempt to interrupt in. 

“They began ramming themselves in opposition to the door.… We simply have the one lock, so I used to be holding it shut and I am calling for my companion to return, assist me maintain the door shut,” Zammit mentioned.

Zammit mentioned the person got here again later, however when he heard her boyfriend’s voice, he left.

They known as police, who spoke with Zammit exterior.

“Instantly they had been like, ‘Do not contact your door. Like do not lean again in opposition to your door,'” Zammit mentioned.

“And I flip round and simply discover my door like utterly bloodied. Like hand prints, all the, like, door body, deal with, the whole lot glass … it was terrifying.”

In a Fb put up, the City of Banff mentioned that they’re organising psychological well being assist for anybody on the town who may have it. 

“We’re all type of like, ‘What the heck is occurring?'” mentioned Zammit.

“You do not actually simply really feel secure anymore.… I will not be going out at night time, I will not be strolling my canine alone anymore. It is terrible.”

A ‘shock’ to the neighborhood

In an announcement, Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno mentioned that the neighborhood was already reeling from the earlier loss in August.

“I’m feeling offended, profoundly saddened, and overwhelmed by the deadly stabbing in our city final night time. On behalf of Council and of the neighborhood, I supply our heartfelt condolences to the household and buddies of the younger man who died,” she mentioned.

“This brutal violence is stunning to our neighborhood and we’re taking this challenge very critically. We proceed to be a neighborhood in mourning and are in therapeutic from the tragic lack of a lifelong Banffite in August, so this incident will trigger a resurgence of tension and trauma for some.”

Alberta RCMP main crimes unit has taken over the investigation, with the help of Banff RCMP and the RCMP Forensic Identification Unit.

RCMP are asking anybody who might have witnessed the incident, or who has details about it, to name 403-763-6600.