Man charged in random downtown Calgary attacks to have psychiatric assessment

A 28-year-old man charged in connection with a series of apparently random attacksthat sent three men to hospital will be assessed by a psychiatrist after questions about his mental health were raised at a court appearance Thursday.

The three victimswere each hit on the back of their heads, at least one of them with a piece of concrete. The attacks all happened within a five-block radius in the downtown area.

• Man struck in head with concrete 1 of 3 victims in random downtown Calgary attacks

Jason McKenzie was identified and arrested just before 10 p.m. Tuesday. He was charged with one count of aggravated assault and made a brief appearance in court Thursday morning.

Concerns about his ability to understand the proceedings prompted the judge to order that he see a court psychiatrist on Friday before he makes another appearance.

Police said the investigation is still ongoing and they are not seeking any other suspects.

The first attackhappened last Saturdayat about 11:30 p.m. in the 700 block of Eighth Street S.W., police said.

The victim was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition, but has since been upgraded to stable condition.

Subsequent attacks

In the second attack, a man was using a payphone at the Safeway on 11th Avenue S.W. just after midnight on Monday when he was struck in the back of the head with a piece of concrete, police say.

He was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, but has since been upgraded to stable condition.

The third attack happened early Tuesday morning near the intersection of Eighth Avenue and Ninth Street S.W.

Two police officers on patrol discovered the victim unconscious and in serious medical distress.

Investigators believe he was also hit over the back of the head with a hard object. He was taken to hospital in stable condition.

The suspect was caught on a surveillance camera at one of the attack sites.

In May 2014, McKenzie pleaded guilty to one count of trafficking in cocaine and was sentenced to eight months in jail and given a 10-year ban on possessing firearms, according to court documents.

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