A 92-year-old woman was out for a walk with a friend on a Tuesday afternoon in Calgary when a stranger came up to her and hit her in the face.
Police say the two had never met, and nothing set it off. The woman who struck her ran.
Four days later, officers found the suspect downtown. Juliana Isabella Bodor, 59, of Calgary, is charged with one count of assault. She remains in custody and is due in court Wednesday, Oct. 14.
The charge has not been proven in court.
What police say happened
It was about 4:50 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Not late at night. Late afternoon, when people are heading home from work or running errands.
The woman and her friend were walking in the 200 block of 15 Avenue S.E., just south of the downtown core.
According to police, a woman neither of them knew walked up and struck the 92-year-old in the face, then fled on foot.
The victim had minor injuries. She got herself home and called police.
Investigators identified a suspect. On Saturday, Oct. 10, officers found her downtown and arrested her.
Police haven’t said what led them to her, and haven’t suggested a motive. They say the two women didn’t know each other and believe the attack was unprovoked.
The victim hasn’t been identified.
“Extremely concerning”
Staff Sgt. Mike Sushelnitsky, of the Calgary Police Service’s District 1 General Investigations Unit, said the randomness is what stands out.
“The randomness of this assault against an elderly woman who was out enjoying an afternoon walk is extremely concerning,” he said.
He said police are working on downtown safety through enforcement, targeted patrols and support services, with a focus on people whose behaviour is unsafe or makes others feel unsafe.
Is downtown Calgary getting more dangerous?
The numbers say no, at least citywide.
From January to August 2026, violent crime across Calgary was down 7% compared to the same period last year, according to Calgary Police Service dashboard figures shared by the city. Property crime was up 2%.
But those numbers don’t help much if you’re the one who gets hit. Random attacks in broad daylight are exactly the kind of crime that shapes how safe people feel downtown, whatever the totals say.
The city knows it. Just three days before this arrest, Calgary won a provincial planning award for a downtown safety project. The work, done with design firm DIALOG, studied 10 spots in the downtown core and looked at how design can make public spaces feel safer. Better lighting and new safety infrastructure are already in place at some of them.
None of that could have stopped a stranger who walked up and swung.
What the charge means
Under the Criminal Code, assault means intentionally using force on someone without their consent. It’s the most basic assault charge, used when injuries are minor.
It’s a hybrid offence, so the Crown can prosecute it as a less serious summary offence or as an indictable offence, which carries a maximum of five years in prison.
Bodor’s next appearance is Wednesday. No other charges have been announced.
The help she’s getting
Police say their Victim Assistance Support Team, known as VAST, has reached out to the 92-year-old with services and resources.
VAST has been supporting victims of crime and tragedy in Calgary since 1977. Its services are free. Most of the work is done by trained volunteers called victim support advocates.
Here’s what that support can look like:
A phone line. Advocates call victims with updates on their case and court dates, offer emotional support, and connect them with counselling and other community services. The line is 403-428-8398 or toll-free 1-888-327-7828, Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Help with court. Now that a charge has been laid, advocates can explain the victim’s rights and role in the case, help her prepare, and go to court with her if she needs to testify.
Crisis response. Teams can be sent to the scene of an incident 24 hours a day, at police request.
Trauma dogs. VAST has two accredited facility dogs from the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society. They sit with people who’ve been through something traumatic, including in court. Calgary was the third police service in Canada to use trauma dogs, and the first with sworn officers as their handlers.
The victim also has two rights she can use as the case goes ahead. She can write a victim impact statement, telling the court in her own words how the attack affected her, if there’s a sentencing. She can also ask for restitution if the attack cost her money.
Anyone affected by a crime in Calgary can call the VAST line for information.
If you know something
Police are still asking anyone with information to come forward, including anyone who saw the attack or saw someone running from the area that afternoon.
Calgary Police: 403-266-1234
Crime Stoppers (anonymous): 1-800-222-8477, calgarycrimestoppers.org, or the P3 Tips app
Case number: CA26459852
If you see an assault happening, call 911.
Sources
Calgary Police Service: Police charge woman in downtown assault
Calgary Police Service: Victim Assistance Support Team
City of Calgary: Downtown Safety Project Receives Provincial Planning Award
City of Calgary, Ward 2: Community safety update, January to August 2026
Comments
Conversation