Winnipeg’s ‘Homeless Hero’ Assaulted
Faron Hall, Winnipeg’s ‘homeless hero,’ was assaulted Saturday afternoon at his apartment on Marion Street.
Police say a male and female were present with Hall when the trio became involved in a verbal dispute. The two allegedly assaulted Hall and fled the apartment around 3:25 p.m.
Hall, 45, was conveyed to hospital in unstable condition, but has since been upgraded to serious, but stable condition.
31-year-old Geraldine Ruth Colomb has been charged with aggravated assault.
This wasn’t the first time crime has affected Hall in recent months — on Christmas Eve, he was beaten up by a group of people he said recognized him from the media attention over the last year.
Faron Hall first grabbed headlines when he rescued a boy from the Red River in May 2009. Hall risked his life again in September 2009, when he rescued a woman from the river.
Mayor Sam Katz presented Hall with the Mayor’s Medal of Valour for the bravery he displayed relating to the May incident.
Hall was awarded again in December 2009 by the Manitoba Lifesaving Association and presented a grant in conjunction with The Winnipeg Foundation.
UPDATE: Earlier reports suggested Hall had been stabbed, but police confirm he was badly beaten, not stabbed.
UPDATE #2: Monday, Feb. 8 — Police have arrested and charged a second suspect in the assault. 31-year-old Darrell Walter Longclaws has been charged with aggravated assault and breach of probation.
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February 7th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
God Bless this man.
The show of courage and self sacrifice Faron Hall has showed is something we should all aspire to. The world would be a much better place if we all showed the love for one another that Faron has shown. My prayers are with you Mr Faron Hall.
February 8th, 2010 at 1:29 am
All the good wishes in the world cannot save a man from himself if he is on a path to self destruct. Whether he chooses that path for himself or whether it is chosen for him. Circumstances that few of us will ever understand or experience will dictate the future for Faron. A sad story indeed.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:02 am
Alcohol and Homelessness does not mix well. I hope he recovers okay.
February 8th, 2010 at 10:48 am
I routinely see Faron Hall drunk out of his mind, darting in and out of traffic on Marion and bothering people for money. I think this just furthers the point that you can throw all kinds of money and goodies at people – but if they don’t want to change, they wont. He’s made the choice to continue to hang out with bad people and to continue to drink. No one deserves to be beaten in their own home – but the choices we make have consequences. Maybe this beating will be what knocks some sense into him (no pun intended).
February 12th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Faron has troubles, yes, but he still risked his life twice to save a stranger. Let’s said he has good and not good sides, but that he still is a hero. THANK YOU, FARON.