Disturbing news out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada... early Saturday morning, April 17th, Shannon Barry was brutally attacked after she and five friends were harassed by four men hurling homophobic slurs ("dykes" and "faggots") at them.

Shannon and her friends tried to avoid confrontation with the men but they were pursued. At one point, Shannon fell to the ground which is when her attacker kicked her face so violently that she was knocked unconscious for five minutes. She suffered a crushed left eye socket, broken jaw and facial nerve damage. Shannon underwent surgery to implant two plates in her face. She is still in hospital.

Fortunately for Shannon, ambulance services arrived immediately after her friends called 911. Police, however, did not arrive until 30 minutes later.

A CBC news investigation reveals that the officer on the scene failed to follow standard departmental procedures as incredulously, he did NOT file a crime report, nor did he call for use of the police dog team or helicopter, which are used to track perpetrators of hate crimes and aggravated assaults. As of Wednesday April 21st, police have not responded to the CBC's interview requests.

After such egregious incompetence by the Edmonton police, how will justice be served for Shannon?

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NOTE:
There has been some development with the Shannon Barry case, please read this update.

UPDATE (Saturday April 24th, 2010)
BREAKING: Arrest and charges laid in the Shannon Barry assault case

Photo Credit: CBC News
H/T: Sean Horlor