Overview
Geovanny Villalba-Aleman, a former international student at the University of Waterloo, has pled guilty to several charges related to a stabbing attack that occurred in a gender studies classroom on June 28, 2023. The attack left an instructor and two students injured and has been classified as a hate-motivated incident by the Waterloo Regional Police.
Charges and Plea
Villalba-Aleman, who was 24 years old at the time of the attack, admitted guilt to the following charges:
- Two counts of aggravated assault
- One count of assault with a weapon
- One count of assault causing bodily harm
He was initially facing additional charges, including attempted murder, terrorism, and mischief for damaging a Pride flag.
Incident Details
The attack took place in Hagey Hall during a gender studies class attended by approximately 40 students. Villalba-Aleman entered the classroom, engaged in a brief conversation with the professor, and then launched the attack using two knives. The victims included a 38-year-old professor and two students, aged 19 and 20, who sustained severe but non-fatal injuries.
Motive and Aftermath
The police have described the attack as premeditated and motivated by hate related to gender expression and identity. Villalba-Aleman had been planning the attack for over a month and had written a manifesto discussing “woke” culture and indoctrination.Following the incident, the University of Waterloo faced criticism for its delayed emergency alert response. The university has since promised to improve its communication procedures.
Sentencing
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 21-25, 2024. The hearing will include victim impact statements and arguments from federal prosecutors, who are expected to push for the case to be recognized as an act of terrorism
