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Canadian man left paralyzed from the waist down in alleged anti-gay attack

Canadian man left paralyzed from the waist down in alleged anti-gay attack

Update, 10/13/13:

Police have arrested 19-year-old Shane Edward Matheson in the stabbing of Scott Jones. Police confirmed Matheson will be charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace.


NEW GLASGOW, N.S. — A Canadian man attacked outside a lounge in Nova Scotia early Saturday morning has been left paralyzed from the waist down in what friends and family are calling an anti-gay hate crime.

Scott Jones
Scott Jones

Police said 27-year-old Scott Jones was airlifted to a Halifax hospital with critical injuries after being stabbed twice in the back and across his throat in a vicious attack in New Glasgow, N.S., reported the CBC.

The attacker severed Jones’ spinal cord, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down, according to a family member.

The stabbing took place as Jones and a companion walked home from a local lounge and eatery, where they had been with a group celebrating the opening of a local art gallery. The rest of the group was some distance away.

Amy Punke, who was among the group of friends with Jones when he was attacked, said Jones walking with a friend when two men, who had previously been seen at the bar, came running across the street.

“One of the men distracted Scott’s friend and the other man stabbed Scott twice in the back and tried to slit his throat,” she said.

Punke said Jones is very well known in New Glasgow, and believes he was targeted because he is openly gay.

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“He’s a musician and he’s very open about his sexuality in that he encourages conversation,” she said. “In fact, just two days ago we were talking about him going to high schools and junior high and talking to teens that are afraid of coming out. Just the nature of the evening and the people that we were with and the fact that he was targeted out of all of us.”

Jones was awake and speaking by Saturday afternoon and his wounds are no longer considered life-threatening.

Family members said the attacker whispered something in Jones’ ear as he stabbed him, but that he couldn’t remember what it was.

Police say they have descriptions of the attackers.

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