Content warning: This story may be disturbing to some readers.
A Langford security guard says he feels lucky to be alive after he was stabbed in the face while working a shift at Millstream Village Shopping Centre.
“I didn’t know what was happening to me, I saw blood everywhere,” the victim, who asked only to be identified as ‘Adam,’ recalled to CHEK News Wednesday.
“I didn’t know where I was hit, nothing was hurting. It just looked like you’re just dying, and there’s nothing you can do about it. You’re alone, you’re in the dark in the middle of a parking lot,” he said.
“It’s the worst feeling you could ever have.”
The incident happened before midnight on Monday, Aug. 7, when Adam was working the solo night shift and stumbled across a man behind one of the buildings.
“It’s a prohibited area because it’s dark, and we’re not allowed to let people be behind buildings because they could try to break in. And I saw an individual from further away,” said Adam.
“I figured he’s in an area he’s not supposed to be, but let me make sure he’s OK first off. From afar, I asked if he was OK. I had no response, no reaction of any sort. I got a little closer … and he just kind of lunged at me.”
‘I saw blood everywhere’
That’s when Adam backed off and felt a warm liquid gushing from his face and down his chest. He had been stabbed but says he felt no pain because he was in shock.
“…I looked down, and I saw blood everywhere,” he said.
“I didn’t know, maybe I got nicked in the neck. I didn’t know what was going on. I turned away, ran and grabbed my phone. It was hard to use. Touch screen with blood all over it, it took a little while to tap in all of that.”
Adam called the police, and he recalls officers arriving in just minutes. He says paramedics got him “stitched up” and told him it looked like a knife wound.
Yet the moments leading up to emergency responders on scene were “a lot to take in,” says Adam. “You know, especially going through something like that.”
The West Shore RCMP say Adam suffered non-life-threatening injuries and paramedics transported him to the hospital for treatment.
“The cut was maybe two inches off of my carotid. He could have went a little lower, and I could have been not here talking to you,” Adam told CHEK News.
Now he says he’s lucky to be alive.
“Especially when I was bleeding everywhere, and I felt like maybe this is my last moment. Everybody important to you is rushing through your mind,” said Adam.
“I have to say goodbye to this person, what if I don’t have time to say goodbye to this person?”
He says the incident is a big eye-opener.
“…you have to take life for appreciation. You never know,” he said. “To me, it started off as another day at work. I’ve been working security for a while now, so every other day was just another day.”
Police search for suspect
In a news release, RCMP say officers were called to the scene around 11:58 p.m. Monday. They say the stabbing happened in the alleyway behind Ali-Baba’s Pizza and Serious Coffee, located in the shopping centre on Millstream Road.
While officers contained and canvassed the area to search for suspects and witnesses, none were found, according to RCMP in the release.
“Police believe this incident is isolated and the public does not appear to be at risk,” they said.
They say the male suspect is around 5’11” tall with brown hair. He was wearing a black and blue hoodie and a black backpack.
Now Adam’s hoping his story will urge others to use caution, even if the area seems safe.
“I hope that people stay safe and be careful,” he added. “It’s always good to have a helping mind and try to help others, but just with what’s going on these days and maybe just always be careful. Put yourself first and watch out.”
The West Shore RCMP are looking to identify the suspect and any witnesses to the stabbing. They’re asking anyone with information about the incident to call the detachment at 250-474-2264.
Ethan Morneau
