Accused in stabbing of Dollarama security guard has criminal record

A man has been charged in the stabbing of a security guard at a St. James Dollarama.

The security guard at the Courts of St. James store confronted a suspected shoplifter before being stabbed in the “upper body” with a sharp-edged weapon Tuesday afternoon, police said.

The suspect fled with stolen merchandise and the security guard was hospitalized in stable condition.

Nelson Preston Sumner, 29, was arrested at Portage Avenue and Strathmillan Road Wednesday morning. He was charged with aggravated assault, robbery and failing to comply with a probation order. He remains in custody.

Dollarama spokesperson Lyla Radmanovich said the national chain has co-operated in the investigation.

“Dollarama is aware of a serious incident that occurred at one of its stores in Winnipeg involving a security guard employed by a third-party provider,” she said in an email Tuesday afternoon.

“We are co-operating fully with the authorities in their investigation. The safety and well-being of our employees, customers and business partners is a priority.”

In November, Sumner pleaded guilty to mischief, assault with a weapon and two counts of breaching court orders for which he was sentenced to the equivalent of six months in custody and 18 months of supervised probation.

Court was told he was addicted to methamphetamine and has fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.

Sumner had been arrested on June 4, 2025, for threatening a stranger with a machete as he tried to steal the man’s sunglasses outside the victim’s residence on Henderson Highway.

Sumner spent nine days in custody before he was released on bail. He was rearrested Aug. 24, 2025, after he was caught breaching his curfew.

On Sept. 14, he was released again and was ordered to wear an ankle monitor. He was rearrested that same day after he was spotted outside his home trying to remove the ankle monitor, in breach of his curfew.

Sumner had been charged with mischief to property in May of that year after he shattered the windshield of his mother’s car because she wouldn’t allow him into her house, where he had previously stayed.

Court reports provided at his sentencing say Sumner is mostly transient, has “emotional regulations issues” that lead to difficulties managing his anger, and has been designated a vulnerable person with cognitive issues.

“That to my mind, greatly reduces his moral culpability,” said provincial court Judge Murray Thompson.

Sumner’s probation order included conditions he participate in drug counselling as ordered and not possess weapons.