Laval daycare attack

On February 8, 2023, a man attacked a daycare in Laval, Quebec, Canada.[1] The suspect crashed a Société de transport de Laval (STL) bus into a daycare, killing two children and injuring six others.[2] The suspect was charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder,[3] and reckless driving,[4] who is considered to have acted alone.[5]

Laval daycare attack
LocationLaval, Quebec, Canada
DateFebruary 8, 2023 (2023-02-08)
8:30 am EST
Deaths2
Injured6
AccusedPierre Ny St-Amand

Incident

At around 8:30 am EST, an STL bus, operating on route 151, crashed into the Garderie Éducative de Sainte-Rose daycare, which is located on a roundabout dead end. The bus smashed down the exterior wall of the daycare on impact, and threatened to bring down parts of the roof. The driver climbed out of the vehicle after the crash and began to take off his clothes while screaming.[6][7]

One child was pronounced dead on the scene, while the other died in the hospital. The victims were later identified as Jacob Gauthier, aged 4, and Maëva David, aged 5.[8][9][10] Six other children were hospitalized.[5]

Accused

The bus driver was identified as 51-year old Pierre Ny St-Amand. Born in Cambodia, he was adopted as an orphan in the aftermath of the Cambodian genocide by a Québécois family originally from New Brunswick. He grew up in Sept-Îles, in the Côte-Nord region.[11] He had worked for the STL for 10 years and had no previous criminal convictions.[7] He was arrested on the scene and was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and four counts of assault with a weapon causing bodily harm.[4][5]

During his first court appearance by videoconference from his hospital bed, Ny St-Amand allegedly hit a police officer. He was nevertheless declared fit to stand trial.[12]

References
  1. "Two children dead, 6 others seriously injured after city bus crashes into a daycare north of Montreal | The Star". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  2. "Two children dead after city bus crashes into Quebec daycare, driver charged". National Post. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  3. "CityNews". montreal.citynews.ca. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
  4. Blais, Morgan Lowrie, Stephane (2023-02-08). "Driver charged with homicide after two children killed when bus crashed into Quebec daycare". Canada's National Observer. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  5. Caruso-Moro, Luca. "2 children dead, 6 injured after city bus crashes into daycare in Montreal suburb Laval, driver arrested". CTV News. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
  6. Lapierre, Matthew (2023-02-09). "Questions swirl after Laval, Que. bus crash. Here's what we know so far". CBC. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  7. "Quebec bus driver 'stripped naked' after daycare crash that killed two kids – live". The Independent. 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2023-02-09.
  8. "Jacob Gauthier avis de décès - Rosemère, QC". Dignity Memorial (in French). Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  9. "Drame de Laval: Lettre des parents de Maëva David". La Presse (in Canadian French). 2023-02-13. Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  10. Wood, Nancy (February 13, 2023). "2nd victim of Laval daycare crash remembered as 'ray of sunshine' by her family". CBC.ca. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  11. Dussault, Lila; Ferah, Mayssa (2023-02-09). "Drame à Laval: Le voisinage sous le choc". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2023-02-13.
  12. "Tragédie à Laval: le suspect frappe un policier lors de sa comparution". TVA Nouvelles. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
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