‘I told her she was loved': Witness recounts horrific attack that killed Kelowna mother
'I just wanted to get there and try to stop whatever was happening but I don't think I was quick enough obviously,' Christopher Anderson told Global News.
Anderson said he and his girlfriend were driving along Enterprise Way early Friday afternoon when they saw a man wielding what Anderson said appeared to be a hammer and chasing a woman who was screaming and running away.
That woman was 32-year-old Bailey McCourt.
Anderson said he slammed on the brakes but by the time he got out of his vehicle, the attacker was on top of McCourt.
Story continues below advertisement
'He was putting his body weight on her, hand above his head, coming down with force,' Anderson said. 'I ran up to them. I was yelling at him to get off of her. He got up pretty quickly.'
Anderson said the man sped away and he and another witness then turned their attention back to McCourt, who Anderson said was left with significant injuries.
'She was responsive in the fact she was squeezing my hand when I asked if she could hear me,' Anderson said. 'I just tried to say as much as I could to her to let he know she was safe now…I told her that help was on the way. I told her that she was loved.'
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
McCourt was rushed to hospital where she later died.
2:12
Family outraged after woman dies in Kelowna violent assault
Her ex-husband, James Plover, is charged with second-degree murder and is scheduled to make a court appearance on Friday.
Story continues below advertisement
Just hours prior to the attack, Plover was convicted of four charges related to domestic violence.
According to court documents, conditions of his release included staying a certain distance from the complainant.
3:14
Women fleeing domestic abuse struggle to find adequate housing
Friday's attack has highlighted significant gaps in the system to protect victims from intimate partner violence.
Kelowna RCMP said due to significant community concerns in the wake of the tragedy, they are holding an outreach event in the parking lot of Parkinson Rec Centre Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The public is invited to come out and connect with police to voice concerns and ask questions.
'We understand that this event has caused significant concerns to the community and people may have questions about their safety and the incidents that they either witnessed or were involved in,' said media relations officer Cpl. Allison Konsmo.
Story continues below advertisement
'This is a time for residents, community members and the public to come together, voice their concerns, ask questions and connect with resources.'
As for Anderson, he hopes his actions along, with those of the other witness, provide some comfort to McCourt's grieving family
'To find out that we were there for what were her last moments,' said Anderson. 'I'm glad to at least know that she felt safe and that her attacker wasn't the last person that she saw.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
4 hours ago
- Global News
‘I was denied': Mother of Halifax homicide victim turned down for federal benefit
When Devon Marsman's mother found out there was a federal government benefit available for parents of young victims of crime, she was relieved. Theresa Gray has committed to being at every court appearance for the five people charged in connection with her 16-year-old son's homicide. And even before charges were laid, she had taken time off to search for Devon, resulting in hours of missed work she could barely afford. 'I'm a hair stylist and a manager of my shop, so I lost like days (worth of) pay, I lost days (worth of) tips. And I searched three years,' she said. Devon went missing in February 2022. In September 2024, Halifax Regional Police announced his death was considered a homicide and began laying charges. Human remains were found that summer and sent to the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service for identification. Story continues below advertisement In February of this year, investigators confirmed the remains belonged to Devon. In total, five people were charged in connection with Devon's death, including his cousin. Now, with four trials set to begin in 2026 and 2027, Gray says she needs the extra income more than ever. 'I figured closer to the trials, then I would apply for the benefit, and most of the trials will be a month long or longer,' she explained. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'And then I got a letter saying I was denied.' View image in full screen Theresa Gray holds up a letter from the federal government informing her that her application for the Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime was denied. Ella MacDonald/Global News In their letter, the federal government says Gray waited too long to apply for the Canadian Benefit for Parents of Young Victims of Crime. Story continues below advertisement Global News reached out to Employment and Social Development Canada, which is responsible for administering the benefit. A spokesperson reiterated the program's eligibility criteria. 'The benefit provides eligible parents with payments of $500 per week, for a maximum of 35 weeks over a period of 156 weeks (three years),' the media relations spokesperson, Maja Stefanovska, wrote. 'All 35 weeks of payments must be paid within 156 weeks (three years) of the death or disappearance of the child.' 2:13 Devon Marsman's remains are identified, but mother says there's no closure But Gray points out that while three years have indeed passed since Devon's 2022 disappearance, she didn't receive confirmation he was the victim of crime until his remains were discovered last year. 'Three years have already passed since 2022, but in 2022 I didn't know anything of the outcome of Devon. I mean he was missing, but I didn't know he was already murdered,' she said. Story continues below advertisement Nevertheless, the government has chosen the date he went missing rather than the date on his death certificate to determine Gray's eligibility for the benefit. '(The death certificate) didn't state he was deceased until Aug. 30, 2024. So that's definitely not three years,' she said. She has plans to appeal the decision, but if she is denied a second time, she'll be left struggling to pay the bills and provide for her daughter while keeping her resolve to attend the trial dates. 'I don't think there should be a guideline or a timeline. Three years is not bringing a child back — at all. And it's going to take more than three years to get through our justice system,' she said.
Global News
4 hours ago
- Global News
Family of Canadian woman detained by ICE pleads for her release
The family of a Montreal woman detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is urgently pleading for her release and hoping to bring her home. Paula Callejas, 45, has been detained by ICE for the last three months, moving between multiple detention centres and costing her family up to $25,000 in legal fees without any success in getting her out. 'She's not a criminal,' her mother Amria Estella Cano, a Mississauga, Ont., resident told Global News on Wednesday. 'It's really hard for her and our family.' View image in full screen Amria Estella Cano, a Mississauga, Ont. resident, looks at pictures of her daughter Paula Callejas, 45. Callejas has been detained by ICE since April. Global News Her daughter was arrested in Florida in April and she hasn't seen her since. She says she is now pleading with the Canadian government to step in and help. Story continues below advertisement Originally from Montreal, Callejas was in the U.S. on a work visa hoping to grow her swimsuit business. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Her mother says she was in the process of renewing her visa when she had an altercation with her boyfriend. She was was arrested for a misdemeanour and later transferred to an ICE facility, according to a relative who does not want to be identified. 'She has switched from four different detention centres,' the relative told Global. 'And the situation in the centres is not good.' View image in full screen Amria Estella Cano with her daughter Paula Callejas. Courtesy Amria Estella Cano Her family says the 45-year-old is now stuck in a facility in Arizona, and her mental health is declining. 'We're very worried. Every time we talk to her, her mood is just deteriorating. The last time we talked to her, we were very concerned about her well-being, and even concerned about her coming home alive,' her relative said. Story continues below advertisement As part of its immigration crackdown, the Trump administration has pledged to deport record numbers of people who are allegedly living in the country illegally, setting a goal of arresting at least 3,000 people a day. Global Affairs Canada (GAC) told Global News in a statement that the government is aware of the detention of a Canadian citizen in the United States, and consular assistance is being provided. 'Due to privacy considerations, no further information can be disclosed,' the agency's statement says. In March, a Vancouver resident spent nearly two weeks in ICE custody after she was arrested while trying to renew her work visa. Last month, another 49-year-old Canadian died while in custody. He had been detained since May. 'Global Affairs is aware of multiple cases of Canadians currently in immigration-related detention in the U.S.,' the GAC said. 'Consular services are available to all Canadians detained abroad, including those detained by ICE in the United States.'
Global News
11 hours ago
- Global News
Teen charged in horrific attack on Ontario child police initially attributed to an animal
A 17-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder and sexual assault with a weapon of a person under 16 years old in an attack on a child police had initially suspected was from an animal. The eight-year-old victim was reported on the night of June 24, in Quadeville, southeast of Barry's Bay and about 170 km away from Ottawa. They were found shortly after midnight the following morning with life-threatening injuries. At the time, police had warned parents near the rural eastern Ontario town to 'keep children indoors or under close supervision.' Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'While early evidence suggested a possible animal attack, investigators did not rule out human involvement,' Ontario Provincial Police said in a Wednesday media release. 'While the incident is still under investigation, recent testing of samples taken from the victim's wounds has now revealed no traces of animal DNA.' Story continues below advertisement The victim remains under medical care. Police say the 17-year-old suspect, who cannot be legally identified because he is a minor, was arrested and charged on Tuesday and remains in custody pending a court appearance. Police have scheduled a town hall meeting in Quadville for Saturday, July 12, to address questions and concerns from the community. Details of the time and place of the event have yet to be determined. Anyone with information or relevant video is asked to contact the OPP's Upper Ottawa Valley detachment at 1-888-310-1122, or Crime Stoppers if they wish to remain anonymous.
