Vancouver’s chief of police says the city’s collective sense of safety has been shaken after one man was killed and another was seriously injured in what police say were two unprovoked, random attacks in the city’s downtown early Wednesday.
“Attacks like these shake our collective sense of comfort and safety, and we’re grateful that a suspect was quickly taken into custody by our officers,” said Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Chief Const. Adam Palmer in a release a few hours after the violence began.
Police said around 7:40 a.m. PT they received reports of a man who had been attacked near Cathedral Square, at Richards Street and Dunsmuir Street.
Officers found a man in his 50s who had been attacked with a knife, was bleeding from this head, and had one hand severed.
VPD said he was taken to hospital for emergency treatment and is expected to survive.
Less than 10 minutes later, officers were called to West Georgia Street and Hamilton Street after a second man was attacked by the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
First responders were unable to save the man’s life. Police have not confirmed his age or identity.
Palmer said investigators have confirmed the attacks were random and unprovoked.
“Although it will take time before we have all of the answers, it does not appear either victim knew the suspect, and we believe these attacks were completely random,” said Palmer.
Palmer and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim are expected to speak at a news conference from VPD headquarters at 1 p.m. PT.
Suspect
Police said patrol officers were able to obtain images of a suspect and confirm the two incidents were linked.
Around 9 a.m. PT, officers located the suspect on Habitat Island, near the Olympic Village, after receiving reports of a man behaving erratically and yelling at a stranger, police said.
The statement from VPD said the suspect, a 34-year-old White Rock resident, was taken into custody.
Police are asking witnesses, or anyone with information who has not yet come forward, to call VPD Homicide at 604-717-2500.