The Red Deer RCMP confirmed Dr. Walter Reynolds is the person who was killed in an attack at a walk-in-clinic in the central Alberta city. Superintendent Gerald Grobmeier, Detachment Commander, Red Deer RCMP, says the suspect, 54 year old Deng Mabiour, was in custody within five minutes of police receiving the 9-1-1 call.
He says it is not a random attack and that the individual knew the doctor through the clinic. The suspect has been charged with first degree murder as well as two counts of assault.
Dr. Barb Konstantynowicz, President of the Saskatchewan Medical Association, says their thoughts are with the staff, family friends and relatives of Dr. Reynolds. She says it is shocking and like everyone, doctors go in to work every day focused on work; how to help their patient the best, how to navigate through the system, how to get them the care they need.
“I will however state that this is probably something we don’t know the numbers of. I suspect that many physicians have had occurrences of times, perhaps, where maybe they didn’t feel safe or felt somewhat threatened in some way either verbally or just worried in a set of circumstances.”
The RCMP says the doctor was attacked in an exam room and there were approximately 13 people, staff and patients, at the walk-in-clinic when the attack occurred. Neither motive nor the type of weapons used were indicated by police.
(CJWW)
