Toronto police say one person is dead and another person is in stable condition after a stabbing in Etobicoke Saturday night.
A spokesperson told Global News that officers were called to the area of Kipling Avenue and Dixon Road with reports of a stabbing around 6:40 p.m.
The spokesperson said they found two women at the scene with stab wounds. One woman was transported to hospital in life-threatening condition but as of Sunday morning had been upgraded to stable.
The second victim, 84-year-old Elena Marucci, was pronounced dead at the scene. Residents in the area told Global News Marucci was stabbed in her own home.
Neighbours said the other woman stabbed was a caregiver for Marucci and her husband, who lived inside the home.
Tenzin Namdhak, who lives two doors down from the elderly pair, said the caregiver went door to door bleeding from the stab wounds and crying out for help.
“There’s blood stain, little bit here and over there also,” said Namdhak, pointing to his porch and front door.
Nurullah Haidari said he saw the couple’s caregiver screaming and running down the street with blood dripping down her neck.
“Big, huge, huge cuts. Two huge cuts on the neck and [one] on [her] back,” said Haidari.
Haidari said she made it as far as a shopping complex down the street before he stepped in to help. He adds he wasn’t sure how to stem the flow of blood but the caregiver guided him through the process while she continued to bleed.
Namdhak said the elderly couple lived alone at the home for decades. He said that the man stayed indoors most of the time and used a wheelchair while his wife would leave the house on occasion.
“I see the old woman come out. She does a little bit of gardening or something like that,” said Namdhak.
Namdhak said the two were accompanied occasionally by the now-wounded caregiver and their grandson, who has now been arrested in relation to the fatal stabbing.
“He does the… cutting the grass,” said Namdhak.
Officers said Michael Colastosti, 31, of Toronto is charged with first-degree murder as well as attempted murder. He is scheduled to appear in court at Old City Hall Sunday morning.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 416-808-2300 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477.
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