Unprovoked knife attack won’t keep this piper down

Kevin Murison gets all kinds of reaction when he plays his bagpipes on one of Ottawa’s busiest sidewalks on weekends, most of it kind.

“A few people walk by with their hands on their ears, but just so many positive comments saying they love my playing, it sounds great — just so many positive comments,” said Murison, 35, who frequently busks in full Highland attire on the bridge overlooking the Ottawa Locks, beside the Château Laurier.

Last year, a passing tourist from Brazil was moved to tears and gave Murison a big hug, along with her phone number in case he and his pipes ever make it down to South America.

Then there was the man who ordered him to stop playing, and when Murison refused, tossed a drink at him and stole some bills from his open pipe case.

“But that’s nothing compared to this,” Murison said, referring to an incident on Saturday afternoon that left him with four stitches in his thumb and a 15-centimetre gash in the thick hide of his bagpipe bag.

Murison says he was playing in his usual spot around 4 p.m. Saturday when a vehicle pulled up to the curb and a man got out and approached him to ask for a photo. Murison obliged, but as the man stood beside him he noticed he wasn’t holding a phone or a camera.

“And the next thing I know he has a knife in his hand,” Murison said.

What happened next is still a bit of a blur, but by the time the car drove away Murison was looking down at his hand to see it covered in blood.

Suspect nabbed nearby

A passerby called 911 and police quickly arrived. The first officer on the scene bandaged Murison’s hand, while others soon located the suspect’s vehicle nearby. (Another passerby had helpfully photographed the licence plate.)

A 25-year-old man is facing numerous charges including assault with a weapon. The suspect, who’s also charged with two counts of breaching probation, remained in custody as of Wednesday.

In a news release, Ottawa police said the attack came “without provocation.”

Murison says he’s loved the pipes his whole life, and took up the traditional Scottish instrument about 15 years ago. Besides busking, he plays at Highland games and parades throughout the region with his band, Ottawa Caledonian Pipes and Drums.

Murison says he doesn’t know what motivated his attacker to do what he did, but he has a theory.

“I kind of think that the pipes were the target, and I was just collateral,” he said. “Things could have been a lot worse if he was actually looking to hurt me.”

Outpouring of support

Murison’s band has already furnished him with a new bag, which can cost hundreds of dollars, and he said there’s been a “huge outpouring” of concern and support from the larger bagpiping community.

“I’m lucky to have such good friends and a caring community,” he said.

With a bandage covering his left thumb, it will be several more days at least before Murison can resume playing.

But while he says he’s still “kind of bummed” about what happened on Saturday, Murison says he won’t be silenced.

“No, not at all, no,” he said. “Once my finger’s better I’ll be back out here playing again.”