Caught-on-camera stabbing at Vancouver Tim Hortons sends man to hospital with serious injuries
Warning: Details in this story may be disturbing for some readers.
Police in Vancouver say they're investigating an alarming, unprovoked stabbing that sent one person to hospital with life-threatening injuries over the weekend.
The attack, which was caught on surveillance camera, happened at a Tim Hortons in downtown Vancouver early Saturday morning. Police said the 25-year-old victim was waiting at the fast food restaurant when a suspect suddenly came up to him from behind and repeatedly stabbed him in the back and shoulder. The suspect then ran from the store, police said.
While the victim's injuries were serious and life-threatening, he was taken to hospital and is now expected to survive.
"This disturbing incident has all the hallmarks of a random attack that came completely without warning, and we’re increasingly worried about the public’s safety," Sgt. Steve Addison said in a news release.
"We need anyone who witnessed this assault to come forward, and we urge anyone who recognizes the suspect to call police."
Addison said the suspect and the victim don't know each other and it didn't seem like they had much of an interaction before the attack.
"We don't know if there was a motive for this attack, and the fact that it appears random and unprovoked is extremely concerning," Addison said.
Police are hoping witnesses of the incident, which happened at about 6:20 a.m. at the Harbour Centre Tim Hortons on West Hastings Street, will help identify the suspect.
He's described by investigators as a man in his 20s who is about 6'2" tall. He has short, black hair and a slim build. Police said he was wearing a grey hoodie that had a black hood and black sleeves, grey and black jeans and black shoes with white soles. He was also wearing a black and white face mask with a Crooks and Castles logo on it at the time.
Just days before Saturday's incident, police released security video of another unprovoked attack downtown. That incident, which police said happened on New Year's Eve, showed a man grab a 22-year-old woman then throw her against the wall of Hotel Georgia.
The woman was able to get the man off of her, and he can be seen in the video picking up his bag and walking off.
"We recognize these incidents cause significant anxiety and trepidation in the community," Addison said. "However, it’s important that we talk about them so we can solve these crimes and people can make informed decisions about their personal safety."
Anyone with information about Saturday's stabbing is asked to call major crime investigators at 604-717-2541.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Kendra Mangione
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.