Jacob Henriksen-Willis

Police are actively searching for a suspect in a violent assault near Boulevard Lake Thursday morning. Residents are advised to exercise caution around the area in the meantime.

At around 8:10 am on Thursday morning, 37-year-old schoolteacher Rebecca Carr says she was going for a jog by Boulevard Lake when she was struck from behind by a stranger.

“I was crossing a small bridge over the river and I noticed an individual, and right away, he gave me an interesting look and his body changed,” Carr said. “But, you know, that could be anything. So I kept on with my run. Within, say, 30-45 seconds of that, I’m clocked in the back of the head by him.”

Carr said the incident occurred around the Loop Trailhead parking lot near St. Ignatius High School.

“He shoved me to the ground and he kept swinging at my head,” she said. “I went into shock, I think I started screaming, what the —? I just couldn’t believe it, it’s my worst nightmare.”

“Once I was on the ground, I just decided that I had to fight for my life. So I started swinging back and hitting him as hard as I could.”

The man then put his knee on her neck and Carr began to fall out of consciousness, she said.

“When he was finally able to mount me with his knees, I did feel a little exhausted by that point. I was going, ‘I’m a mother. I have two kids.'”

Carr says that was when a car pulled up and the attacker fled.

“I lifted my head up and I saw a car that had stopped and I just ran screaming to that car,” she said. “These wonderful, wonderful high school students had decided to pull over and even more bravely, they allowed me into their car as I was running for my life.”

Images of Rebecca Carr after the Boulevard Lake assault (via Rebecca Carr)

Carr said the two occupants of the vehicle were a brother and sister from St. Ignatius High School. Their names weren’t shared to protect their identity, but Carr said the brother was in 12th grade and the sister was in 10th grade.

“I’m still a little emotional about that,” Carr said. “Ultimately they are the real heroes. They’re the reason I’m still here today.”

Carr said the students drove her to St. Ignatius where she waited for the police.

In a release shared Friday morning, the Thunder Bay Police Service warned that the suspect has not been located and that the investigation into the incident is ongoing. The suspect is described as being light-skinned, in his 30s or 40s, with grey in his hair and an unkempt appearance. Police say he may be wearing a yellow, orange and white plaid jacket.

There is a police presence in the Boulevard Lake area where Carr says she was attacked. Drones (right image, visible top left corner) are being used to monitor the area.

Police are asking the public to use caution while using recreational trails in the area, and:

• Walk with another person whenever possible
• Avoid wearing headphones or earbuds that block out surrounding sounds
• Remain aware of your surroundings at all times
• Stay clear of dark, isolated, or closed-in areas

Carr shared her story on Instagram Thursday afternoon.

“I had an overwhelming response from women who run the trail, who have daughters that go to St. Ignatius that run or walk that trail every day,” Carr said. “It made me feel that there are some people out there who could potentially help and that they felt more confident to call the police about their gut instincts or dodgy situations they saw that morning as well.”

As of Friday afternoon, Carr says she is “shaken up” mentally as the shock from the assault wears off, but physically she is dong better.

This is a developing story. More updates will be provided when available.