Yamanto Central stabbing attack: Boy, 13, charged with attempted murder over Coles stabbing
A 13-year-old boy accused of trying to kill a supermarket worker by stabbing her in the back in a random attack took the knife from the Ipswich store, investigators will allege. It comes as the identity of the worker can be revealed.
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A 13-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after a supermarket worker was allegedly stabbed in the back and left with critical injuries in a random attack at an Ipswich shopping centre.
Police allege the woman was stabbed with a large knife and with such force the blade came through the front of her abdomen.
The bloody incident occurred about 5.25pm on Monday at the Yamanto Central shopping centre.
Police allege the boy approached the staff member and stabbed her with a knife. She was reportedly stacking fridges at the time.
The victim has been identified as 63-year-old Claudia Campomayor Watt.
The boy was arrested on Monday afternoon after he fled the scene but was detained by members of the public.
The woman was stabbed in her back with a large knife. The knife penetrated her body with such force the blade came through the front of her abdomen.
The woman’s injuries were so horrific that a Queensland Ambulance Service emergency physician was called to the scene, along with paramedics.
The emergency physician provided advanced lifesaving care to the woman in the back of the ambulance on the drive from Yamanto to Princess Alexandra Hospital.
The woman was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, where she remained in a critical but stable condition on Tuesday morning.
Police will allege the boy took the knife from the Ipswich store.
The Courier-Mail has confirmed investigators will allege the boy got the knife from the supermarket before the stabbing.
The boy has since been charged with attempted murder and the matter has been mentioned at Ipswich Children’s Court this morning.
A full brief of evidence was requested by Legal Aid and the matter was adjourned until February 25.
No application for bail was requested.
Queensland Police Inspector Michael Manago told media today the knife was still embedded in the woman’s back as she was taken to hospital.
He said police would allege the attack was random and that the child acted alone.
“At about 5.25pm, police were called to the Yamanto Central Shopping Centre in regards to a 63-year-old Collingwood Park woman who had received a serious injury, which we believe was inflicted by a knife,” Inspector Manago said.
“The offender attempted to leave the centre and was promptly apprehended by some members of the public along with security.
“This is an abhorrent crime that occurred to an innocent 63-year-old woman who was going about her daily employment at her shopping centre.
“And it shouldn’t happen in society today.”
Inspector Manago said police were investigating the lead up to the incident and the motive behind the attack, as well as how the child got possession of a knife.
Inspector Manago said there were no calls to police about the boy prior to the attack, and there were no police at the shopping centre when the incident occurred.
The area was plunged into lockdown after the stabbing, with one shopper later saying there had been “blood everywhere”.
Lovisa worker Chelsea Collins said she had just gone into Coles not long before the attack to buy a drink.
“I started work at four and literally not even half an hour before I went into Coles,” she said.
“I even walked past the fruit aisle and the poor worker before she was stabbed when I went in there.
“I couldn’t help thinking like what if that were me or that happened when I was in there at the time.
“At first I thought someone had maybe attempted to steal something because Coles was locking down, but then I realised other stores were locked down as well so I started to shut the store.
“Then I saw the little kid running up and down the centre. Eventually I think six people tried to detain him.”
Ms Collins said she was in shock that the attack happened in the shopping centre.
“Everyone was just in shock with what had happened. I don’t think we have ever seen something like that happen before our eyes,” she said.
“It was really scary and pretty upsetting like the whole centre community is super close.”
Mama Mac’s worker Steevie Cowdery said she had just closed the pastry store when she heard the woman scream.
“It was pretty scary I wasn’t sure what had happened but then I saw the kid run past,” she said.
Ms Cowdery said she helped a woman and her baby get to safety after the shopping centre went into lockdown.
“I walked her and her baby towards the Kmart end of the store but I didn’t realise the boy had gone that way,” she said.
“When I saw him I quickly rushed everyone into a nearby store until he was taken away.
“It is not good and honestly way too close to home. The shopping centre has a bit of a sombre feeling today it’s very quiet.”
Say Sushi worker Tshering Dema said she went to see what had happened inside the Coles store after she heard lots of screaming.
“I told my manager I was going to see what the noise was and then I saw that (the 63-year-old woman) had been stabbed,” she explained.
“She was laying down and there was also some blood on her back.
“I came back and told my manager the same story.
“After that the police and ambulance came. I was very scared.”
A Coles spokeswoman said their thoughts were with the store team member and their family after the distressing incident that happened on Monday.
“We are committed to providing them with support, as well as their colleagues who are being offered counselling during this difficult time,” she said.
“The safety of our customers and team members is our number one priority.
“We thank all those who assisted including emergency services and Queensland police who we are working with on the investigation.
Superintendent Kylie Rigg said police would increase high-visibility patrols in the area to make the community feel safer in wake of the incident.
“My thoughts are certainly with her and with her family, this is a violent attack, an isolated attack, it is a random attack,” Superintendent Rigg said.
“This is an isolated attack, but certainly we understand the community sentiment around their safety.
“In response to this we are already drafting plans to conduct additional high-visibility patrols in these locations to restore community sentiment.”
Since Jack’s Law wanding came into place, 74 knives have been detected in the Ipswich District.
Superintendent Rigg said there was no wanding done at the Yamanto Central Shopping Centre on Monday.
The stabbing happened almost one year after the stabbing death of Vyleen White in an Ipswich shopping centre.
Information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Policelink on 131 444.
Originally published as Yamanto Central stabbing attack: Boy, 13, charged with attempted murder over Coles stabbing
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