Vancouver stranger attacks leave one man dead, another with severed hand

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One man has been arrested in connection with two attacks that took place in downtown Vancouver on Wednesday morning.

One man has died and another has been left with life-altering injuries, according to a statement from Vancouver Police. The VPD is referring to the incidents as suspected stranger attacks.

VPD Chief Adam Palmer commented on the attacks, saying, “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.”

Officers responded to two attacks, one at 7:38 am and another at 7:46 am.

Police say the first attack involved a man who had been attacked near Cathedral Square at Richards Street and Dunsmuir. When attending the scene, officers found a man in his 50s who had been attacked with a knife and was bleeding from the head. He also suffered a severed hand. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.

Eight minutes later, officers responded to an attack at West Georgia and Hamilton Street. Efforts were made to save the victim’s life, but he died at the scene.

Shortly after 9 am, after responding to reports of a man behaving erratically and yelling at a stranger, officers located the suspect on Beer (Habitat) Island in Olympic Village.

The suspect is a 34-year-old White Rock resident who is currently at the Vancouver Jail.

Palmer and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim are expected to address the media about the attacks at 1 pm today.

“I applaud the witnesses who called police immediately and provided timely information,” Palmer added.

“I am also extremely proud of the brave VPD officers who responded quickly to tend to the victims, to gather evidence, to arrest the suspect, and to stop this imminent public safety threat.”

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