Wesley Petterson. (Submitted photo/RCMP)

By Jaryn Vecchio

Mass Stabbing Inquest

‘I would like to know why’: Weldon victim during Sask. mass stabbing not specifically targeted

Jan 20, 2024 | 8:00 AM

The only death that appeared to be random during the mass stabbing in the James Smith Cree Nation and in the Village of Weldon was the last one.

That’s according to Darren Simons, the former staff sergeant for the Melfort RCMP detachment, who testified at the coroner’s inquest that Wesley Petterson appeared to have no connection with the man who took his life.

The other 10 victims, all of whom died on the First Nation, were allegedly targeted for one reason or another.

Petterson was in his home in Weldon when he was fatally stabbed.

Ron Clayton, the village’s mayor, told paNOW he would like to know why Petterson lost his life.

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“We’ll never know what was going through (the attacker’s) head,” he said.

Clayton was Petterson’s neighbour and remembers seeing the attacker pull up in the driveway.

“I was sitting in my big chair here looking out the window. I didn’t see directly what happened, but I watched that (black SUV) come in here and I thought it was his friend because they drove the same vehicle,” he previously told paNOW.

He explained he’s been keeping track of the inquest. While he’s interested in what comes out of it, Clayton doesn’t believe he’ll get the answers he’s looking for.

“I would like to know why Weldon, why come here… we’ll never know but that’s the biggest question I ever think about.”

Meanwhile, Clayton added the Village remains committed to honouring Petterson.

The plan is to name a park after him as he was usually seen sitting around the community playground and picking garbage.

“I’m leaving it up to the family to say what they want, put it on the plaque that (we’ll) put at this park,” said Clayton.

The hope is to have this done sometime this summer. The Village is still trying to get provincial funding to help cover the project’s costs.

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Jaryn.Vecchio@pattisonmedia.com

X: @princealbertnow