The suspect in a mass stabbing on a Manitoba First Nation was killed when his vehicle collided with a responding RCMP cruiser. (Facebook/Don Holland)

By paNOW Staff

Tragic coincidence

Mass attack on Manitoba First Nation leaves two dead on anniversary of James Smith Cree Nation stabbings

Sep 4, 2025 | 3:43 PM

An 18-year-old girl lost her life in an early morning attack on the Hollow Water First Nation in Manitoba. RCMP said she was killed by her own brother, who also died.

The suspect, 26-year old Tyron Simard, fled the community, about 160 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, in a stolen vehicle after multiple people were attacked. Around 6:50 a.m. Thursday, he was killed when the vehicle he was driving in collided with a Mountie who was responding to the attack. RCMP said the officer was also seriously injured but is expected to make a full recovery.

Police said eight people were attacked in the community. The first call came in around 3:45 a.m. from the community safety officer who reported an assault had happened, but the suspect fled and EMS was needed.

Just before 6 a.m., another call came in that there had been a mass stabbing.

When officers arrived, they found eight injured people, including the deceased girl, in two homes. The victims range in age from 18 to 60 years old. Three of them were reported to be in critical condition and four were in urgent but not life-threatening condition.

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Officers from multiple detachments remain in the community to conduct what they promise will be a thorough investigation.

A mass killing took place on this day three years ago on James Smith Cree Nation and Weldon, SK. (Peter Chapman Band/Facebook)

The attack comes three years to the day after a mass stabbing on the James Smith Cree Nation (JSCN) and in Weldon, Saskatchewan, which left 11 people dead and 17 injured.

The anniversary was marked quietly with community members gathering for sweat lodge ceremonies, a memorial walk, and candlelit vigil.

In a post on their Facebook pages, Peter Chapman Band and Chakastaypasin Band, which are members of JSCN, said they are honouring those they lost on Sept. 4, 2022 but they also extend condolences to Hollow Water First Nation.

“For anyone struggling with the weight of the day, please know you are not alone. Reaching out to someone you trust can make the path a little lighter,” the post read.

Premier Scott Moe extended his condolences to the First Nation in Manitoba and acknowledged the grieving and healing that continues on JSCN.

“Our government remains steadfast in supporting survivors, families, and the community — ensuring they have access to the care and resources they need,” Moe wrote in a post on social media.

Rev. Travis Enright is originally from JSCN. He performed the funeral service for Damien Sanderson and his brother Myles Sanderson, the man responsible for the mass killing three years ago.

“My initial feeling about the violence that happens on First Nations communities is one of historical trauma, because these things didn’t happen overnight. These are a series of events and choices that are outside these communities that isolated and caused profound loneliness and cultural and spiritual harm that forces people to act negatively towards themselves and to their own community because they don’t see hopefulness in what it means to be an Indigenous person in this world,” Enright said.

Rev. Travis Enright is from James Smith Cree Nation. (Photo courtesy: Anglican Diocese of Edmonton)

He commended the Chief of JSCN for the work being done to deal with what he called systemic challenges. He said Chief Kirby Constant has been on the forefront of transparency and that’s leading a way forward.

RCMP said the attack in Manitoba happening on the third anniversary of the JSCN mass killings is coincidental. Enright encouraged members back home not to relish in re-traumatization.

“I think for Indigenous populations who’ve experienced this level of trauma, this level of violence in their own communities…they know what its about… So for me, it becomes self-reflective, and not only should we be looking at First Nations communities, we should be looking at why is western culture so violent in nature and why is that violence being transformed into different cultures.”

Enright said James Smith can’t heal a different community.

“We can only heal ourselves and be examples that healing works.”

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panews@pattisonmedia.com