Southgate Centre assault victim identified

CBC News has learned the identity of the man injuredin a violent assault atSouthgate Centre earlier this week.

Iain Armstrong, 61, is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after trying to intervene in a robbery Tuesday around 10:30 a.m.

His son, Sean Armstrong, confirmed his identity to CBCNews in a statement.

"My father is an incredible person, a model of unparalleled kindness and selflessness for us all," he said.

A Facebook pageset up by Iain Armstrong's family said hehas a spinal cord injury that has resulted in paralysis. He remains in a coma.

The public page is the same place where people are expressing their thoughts and prayers for a full recovery.

IainArmstrong is a mall employeewho sufferedsevere head trauma after steppinginwhen he saw a man try to stealfrom a vacant kiosk at the mall.It's unclear if a weapon was used in the attack.

"He was viciously assaulted to the point where he was transported to hospital in critical condition," said Insp. Erik Johnson.

A group of young men was loitering around the mall andtwo of those men have since been arrested, said Johnson.

Police are interviewing the men, and Johnson said the mall's security footage has captured a clear imageof the main suspect in the attack.

"Inthe age we have right now, where everyone has a cell phone, we encourage people instead of being good Samaritansby intervening in things like this, to try to get whatever is happening on video. Because it definitely helps the police investigation."

The assault was brief but vicious, said Johnson.As soon as the store employee was on the ground, and the suspects had fled, bystanders stepped in to help.

A spokespersonfor Southgatesaid the mall would not comment pending the on-going investigation.

Police are still searching for the man suspected in the assault.Police ask anyone with information about this incident to contact theEPSat 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone.