Update: Three men suspected of attacking a Good Samaritan for intervening in sexual harassment on SkyTrain last week have been identified, according to police.
Transit Police released a handful of surveillance images Tuesday hoping to drum up tips on the June 9 attack, and on Wednesday announced the effort had been successful.
The three men have been interviewed and the investigation is continuing.
“Transit Police would like to thank the public and media for their assistance in this matter,” police said in a statement.
Previous story: Police are searching for three suspects who allegedly punched a Good Samaritan for telling them to quit harassing women on SkyTrain last week.
Transit Police said the trio of men boarded a train at Sperling Station around 11:20 p.m. Thursday and started making threatening comments to other passengers.
They told one woman they were going to “follow her home,” police said, and one of the suspects sat down beside another woman and “made jokes to his two friends about raping her.”
At that point, a Good Samaritan intervened and told him to leave her alone.
Police said the suspect became aggressive, swearing at the Good Samaritan and threatening to follow him off the train – which two of the suspects eventually did.
“At Lougheed Station, the man got off the train and was followed by two of the suspects who punched him in the face and upper body,” Transit Police said in a statement.
The assailants got back on the train, and the victim boarded another car to push the emergency strip and call for police.
One of the suspects found him and punched him in the face again before the trio ran away from the scene.
Transit Police officers arrived shortly after and broadcast the men’s descriptions, but were unable to locate any suspects. Authorities commended the victim, who was taken to hospital with a bleeding nose and sore forearm, but discouraged others from putting themselves in harm’s way.
On Tuesday, police released photos of the suspects and asked anyone with information on their identities to come forward.
One suspect is described as a 6’ tall white man, 20-25 years old, with a thin build and short brown hair. He was wearing a red Hurley shirt, blue jeans and a black baseball hat.
The second is 5’9” tall, also white and in his early 20s, with a medium to heavy build, short brown hair, a short beard and a moustache. He was wearing a blue NFL jersey with the name “Johnson” and number 81 and dark jeans.
The third is described as 5’9” tall, white and in his early 20s as well, but with a heavy build and short brown hair. He was wearing a grey hoodie with a red hood and sleeves, black shorts and grey skate shoes.
Tipsters can contact Transit Police by calling 604-515-8300 or texting 87-77-77.
