Olive Garden employee repeatedly stabbed in 'unprovoked and random' attack at Winnipeg restaurant: police

An 18-year-old woman was rushed to hospital in unstable condition Thursday evening after being repeatedly stabbed in what Winnipeg police described as a random attack at a Transcona area restaurant.

Police allege Robert Alan Ingram, 27, was at the Olive Gardenrestaurant at the corner of Reenders Drive and Lagimodiere Boulevardfor about an hour before he allegedlyattacked the woman, a restaurant employee, without provocation "and repeatedly stabbed her in the upper body," Winnipeg Police Service spokesperson Const. Claude Chancy said at a Friday news conference.

The victim, whom police did not name, had serious upper-body stab wounds and gotemergency medical aid from bystanders before officers arrived around 8 p.m., Chancy said.She was rushed to hospital in unstable condition and later upgraded to stable.

The woman and the alleged attacker did not know each other, Chancy said. He added the incident was witnessed "by many, many people" at the restaurant and was likely traumatic for them.

Ingram ran out of the restaurant before officersarrived, Chancy said.They found him nearby on Regent Avenue and arrested himafter what Chancysaid was a brief struggle.

A sharp-edged weapon, believed to be used in the attack, was found in his possession, Chancy said.It is believed the knife wasn't from the restaurant, but was brought there by Ingram, he said.

The 27-year-oldis now charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon and failing to comply with a probation order, police said.

Police investigators are looking into what happenedleading up to the attack, but at this pointthere's nothing indicating any type of discussion took place, Chancy said.

"We know for a fact that it was unprovoked and random in nature," he said. "That's what's so alarming about it it's alarming that it just happened so fast."

In an emailed statement, Olive Gardenconfirmed the woman who was stabbedis an employee, and said the chain is "thankful that our team member is expected to make a full recovery."

The restaurant's Friday morning statement also expressed gratitude "to the first responders who responded so quickly, and for the efforts of local law enforcement in apprehending the suspect."

It also said Olive Garden is focused "on supporting our injured team member and all team members in the restaurant." Counselling is available to all staff through the employee assistance program, the statement added.

Past charges

Court records show Ingram has been in and out of jail over the last few years, after pleading guilty to offences including arson, theft and mischief.

In May 2020, hewas accused of setting 14 fires over a three-day span. Ingram later pleaded guilty to two of those incidents,both involving vehicles in parking lots. The remaining charges were stayed.

Marion Willis, the executive director ofMorberg House, said Ingram first came to the transitional residence for men that she runs in early 2019.

Willis said the man accused in the restaurant stabbingis socially withdrawn, and has struggled with methamphetamine addiction and mental health issues, including delusions.

WATCH | Police provide details about Olive Garden stabbing:

Woman repeatedly stabbed at Winnipeg Olive Garden restaurant

1 year ago

Duration 2:26

A man is in custody after what Winnipeg police call a 'random, unprovoked' stabbing at a Transcona restaurant. The attack left a young woman with serious injuries.

She said last time Ingram washospitalized, her staff tried to urge the hospital not to dischargehim, warning that they feared "he's going to kill somebody."

"This was a young man in desperate need of psychiatric evaluation and long-term clinical psychology services that he could never get."

Willis said since Ingram first came to Morberg House, the organization's staff and the man'sfamily have tried withoutsuccessto get him those services, by attemptingto have him admitted to the Selkirk Mental Health Centre.

"What we see today is the outcome of a system, a mental health system that just either couldn't or wouldn't respond," she said.

Willis said she has spoken with Ingram's mother, and both women'sthoughts are with the victim of Thursday's attack.

AtFriday's news conference, Chancywould not comment on whether Ingramwas under the influence of any substances at the time of Thursday's attack.

He remains in custody on the charges related to the stabbing.

Anyone with information on the stabbingis asked to call police at204-986-6219, or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 204-786-8477 or online.