(rdnewsNOW)

By Sheldon Spackman

May 2021 Incident

Charges withdrawn in Red Deer stabbing as suspect now deceased

Jan 17, 2024 | 4:20 PM

Charges have been withdrawn against a man accused in a Red Deer stabbing over two-and-a-half years ago.

Raine William Gray, 27, was previously scheduled for sentencing in Red Deer Court of Justice on Jan. 16, 2024.

However, the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS) confirmed to rdnewsNOW on Jan. 17, 2024, that the charges against Gray were withdrawn because he is now deceased.

Gray’s matter went to trial in Red Deer Court of Justice in May 2023. He was previously scheduled for trial on July 27, 2022, and originally for Dec. 22, 2021.

Gray was charged with aggravated assault and failure to comply with a release order in the May 22, 2021 incident which took place at Red Deer’s south Walmart.

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It was approximately 4:00 p.m. that day when Red Deer RCMP received a report of a physical altercation at the south Walmart.

rdnewsNOW learned immediately following the incident that a Loss Prevention Officer (LPO) had been stabbed three times after confronting a man he’d believed had been shoplifting.

Mounties say the LPO didn’t realize he’d been stabbed until after having chased the suspect for a short distance, noting the victim sustained minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment.

At the time, it was said the LPO had been stabbed with a kitchen knife of unknown size.

The suspect was located and arrested without incident on May 27, 2022.

Related: New trial date set in Red Deer stabbing incident

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