Police in Lethbridge, Alta., have charged a 12-year-old boy with trying to kill his seven-year-old brother.
Officers responded to a report that a young boy had been stabbed at a home in the city’s north end on Aug. 27, 2025.
The victim’s father had arrived home and found his son in “serious medical distress,” according to a news release.
Police say the victim’s older brother recounted that a man had entered the home and stabbed his little brother before fleeing the scene.
The seven-year-old boy was transported by to Chinook Regional Hospital with critical injuries. Later, he was airlifted to Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton. He remains in hospital in stable condition.
During a search of the property, police seized a knife believed to have been used in the attack.
“As the investigation progressed, evidence was obtained indicating the 12-year-old boy stabbed his brother repeatedly and believed he had killed him, then lied about an intruder entering the home,” the news release says.
Ashlin Snowdon, a staff sergeant with the Lethbridge Police Service, confirmed the two brothers were alone in the home at the time of the incident.
The 12-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault. He is currently in custody awaiting a judicial interim release hearing. The boy cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Snowdon said the circumstances of a case like this are “incredibly rare.”
“Anytime there’s this level of violence used in our community, it should be an extreme concern. But we were able to have an immediate response and ensure there was no threat to the community,” he said.
Police say the investigation is ongoing.