London police investigating after a stabbing in the area of Richmond and Piccadilly street, March 21, 2023. (Photo by Craig Needles, Blackburn Media)London police investigating after a stabbing in the area of Richmond and Piccadilly street, March 21, 2023. (Photo by Craig Needles, Blackburn Media)
London

Attempted murder charge laid in random downtown stabbing

A 19-year-old Londoner is facing an attempted murder charge after a man was stabbed in a random attack at a downtown rail crossing.

The charge against Jose Nathan Lopes-Cajina was announced by London police on Thursday. The charge stems from the stabbing on Richmond Street near Piccadilly Street Tuesday afternoon.

A driver was stopped in the southbound lanes waiting for a train to cross the tracks when a man got into his vehicle, stabbed him and then ran away. The driver was able to pull his vehicle off of Richmond onto Piccadilly, where he called 911. He was taken to hospital by paramedics with critical injuries. As of Thursday afternoon, the man is still in hospital listed in critical condition, police said.

Several surveillance images of a suspect were released to the public by police in the wake of the stabbing.

On Wednesday afternoon, police received information that a man believed to be the stabbing suspect was on a city bus in the area of Southdale and Wellington roads. He was taken into custody without incident, police said.

However, while at police headquarters the man is alleged to have assaulted a police cadet. Injuries were minor, according to police.

In addition to the attempted murder charge, Lopes-Cajina was charged with one count of assaulting a peace officer. He was scheduled to appear in London court in relation to both charges Thursday.

Police have previously stated that the victim did not know the accused and that the stabbing appears to be random in nature.

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