Woman arrested in stabbing on TTC streetcar downtown charged with attempted murder

Warning: The details of the story are graphic, discretion is advised

A 43-year-old woman is facing five charges including attempted murder after she allegedly stabbed another woman in the head and face on a TTC streetcar on Spadina Avenue in Harbord Village on Tuesday afternoon.

Police were called to the area of Spadina and Sussex avenues near Bloor Street West around 2 p.m. Tuesday and found a 23-year-old woman with multiple stab wounds. She was taken to hospital with life-altering injuries.

Police said the suspect was arrested at the scene.

Leah Valdez, of Toronto, is also charged with Aggravated Assault, Carry Concealed Weapon, Possess Weapon Dangerous to Public Peace, and Possession of a Prohibited or Restricted Weapon Knowing its Possession is Unauthorized.

It is not clear if the suspect and victim knew each other.

The incident is the latest in a string of violence on TTC property and on its vehicles, and against transit employees in recent days.

With the recent attacks on TTC employees and riders, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113 is calling for more punishment for anyone who commits acts of violence on public transit.

On Wednesday morning, two TTC workers were were chased by a person with a syringe at Yonge and Dundas streets. The workers were not injured and police arrested a suspect at the scene.

Two uniformed TTC employees were swarmed and injured aboard a bus in Scarborough on Monday. The two workers suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Toronto police believe the suspects wanted for shooting a BB gun at a TTC employee over the weekend in the city’s east were also responsible for another assault involving a BB gun the day before.

Earlier in the month, police said they were trying to locate and speak with people who were swarmed and assaulted by a group of girls at several subway stations on Dec. 17, 2022.