Stranger attack in Vancouver leaves one dead, another with severed hand

Vancouver Police have arrested a man after two attacks in the downtown core that left one man dead and another with life-altering injuries. Investigators are treating the incidents as unprovoked stranger attacks.

“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,” says VPD Chief Constable Adam Palmer. “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.”

VPD officers responded at 7:38 a.m. today to reports of a man who had been attacked near Cathedral Square, at Richards Street and Dunsmuir. Officers found a man in his 50s who had been attacked with a knife, was bleeding from the head, and had suffered a severed hand. The man was taken to hospital for emergency treatment and is expected to survive.

Eight minutes later, at 7:46 a.m., VPD officers were called to West Georgia and Hamilton Street after a second man was attacked. Despite efforts to save his life, the man died at the scene. The victim’s identity and age have not yet been confirmed.

VPD patrol officers obtained images of the suspect, confirmed the two incidents were linked, and began searching for him. Shortly after 9 a.m., officers located the suspect on Habitat Island, near the Olympic Village, after responding to reports that a man behaving erratically had approached a stranger and began yelling at him.

The suspect, a 34-year-old White Rock resident, was taken into custody and is currently at the Vancouver Jail.

“I applaud the witnesses who called police immediately and provided timely information,” adds Chief Palmer. “I am also extremely proud of the brave VPD officers who responded quickly to tend to the victims, gather evidence, arrest the suspect, and stop this imminent public safety threat.”

Witnesses, or anyone with information who had not yet come forward, are asked to call Vancouver Police Homicide at 604-717-2500.