Three unprovoked stranger attacks in one day in downtown Vancouver
Vancouver police released CCTV images after three separate unprovoked assaults on Thursday. Victims include a 73-year-old woman punched at Victory Square.
Three strangers assaulted in separate unprovoked attacks across Vancouver
Three people were attacked by strangers in unrelated, unprovoked assaults on the same Thursday in Vancouver, the Vancouver Sun Crime reports. Security cameras captured some of the incidents, and police have released video images in hopes of identifying the suspects.
The first attack took place just after 6 a.m. at Victory Square on West Hastings Street. A 73-year-old woman standing in line for a recycling cup program was punched in the eye and shoved to the ground after another woman attempted to steal her bags of recycling. The suspect — described as a white woman in her 30s with shoulder-length dirty blond hair with blond highlights, wearing a black jacket over a white sweater, black pants and white shoes — fled eastbound on West Hastings near Cambie Street, taking one of the victim's recycling bags with her. The victim was transported to hospital and is listed in stable condition.
The second incident occurred around 12:30 p.m. near Commercial Drive and Adanac Street. A 44-year-old man talking on his phone was approached by a man who directed racist remarks at him. When the victim told the man to leave him alone, he was elbowed, punched and kicked. Bystanders intervened before the attacker fled southbound on Commercial Drive. Police describe the suspect as a dark-skinned man between 40 and 50 years old, approximately 5-foot-7 with a slim build, last seen wearing a grey dress shirt, tan pants, white shoes and carrying a green cross-body bag.
The third assault took place at approximately 6:20 p.m. near Burrard and West Georgia streets. A 33-year-old pedestrian walking westbound was struck from behind by a man travelling in the opposite direction. The two "briefly exchanged words," according to Vancouver police, before the attacker fled eastbound on West Georgia. He is described as a Black man, roughly 5-foot-9, with short black hair and a black beard, wearing a green winter jacket and carrying a black backpack.
The Vancouver Police Department is asking anyone who witnessed any of the three assaults, or who holds video footage or information that could help identify the individuals involved, to contact police at 604-717-3321.
Source: Vancouver Sun Crime