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Watson Lake woman faces attempted murder charge

A 27-year-old Watson Lake woman is facing an attempted murder charge after an employee at the local women's shelter was stabbed multiple times.

A 27-year-old Watson Lake woman is facing an attempted murder charge after an employee at the local women’s shelter was stabbed multiple times.

Watson Lake RCMP Sgt. Cam Lockwood said the staff member was stabbed Sunday in the face and neck with a kitchen knife inside the Help and Hope for Families Woman’s Shelter in Watson Lake.

She was taken to the hospital and later released.

Ashley Chief, 27, is facing charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and assault with a weapon.

Chief appeared in court Monday. She will stay in jail until at least her next court appearance on July 15.

Chief was a resident of the shelter that day for “just an hour or shortly there around,” Lockwood said.

Watson Lake police and victim’s services are working to “ensure that the victim is getting the support she needs as this matter continues to be investigated,” according to the RCMP press release.

Help and Hope’s executive director, Caron Statham, said the same thing is on her mind.

“My main concern right now is making sure that the staff member is feeling supported and taken care of and that the staff here are feeling supported and taken of,” she said.

The shelter has been open since 1992 and has never experienced anything like this, said Statham. They follow the same safety protocol as other shelters in the Yukon.

The shelter did not shut down for the police investigation and remains open.

“We’re going to look at what we can do a little bit differently so this never happens again.”

Watson Lake Mayor Richard Durocher called the incident tragic.

“We give our thoughts and prayers to the victim and her family. The work the Help and Hope Society for Families does for this community is important, and needed. We will continue to support their efforts. We also hope that this senseless act does not in any way disrupt that work.”