Man charged in caught-on-camera assault of woman on Vancouver bus
A man has been charged in a shocking, unprovoked assault on a woman riding a Vancouver bus that was caught on camera back in June.
Metro Vancouver Transit Police have confirmed Sunday that Shakwan Kelly is facing one count of assault. Court records show the charge was laid on Friday. Kelly's next court appearance is set for Tuesday.
In July, police released surveillance footage in an attempt to advance their investigation. At the time, they said the 43-year-old victim was punched repeatedly in the head and face.
She boarded a northbound Main Street bus at about 7:30 p.m. on June 20 when a man she didn't know boarded at Marine Drive and sat a few seats away from her.
Not long after the bus left, police said, the man allegedly approached the woman and stood a few inches from her, shook his fist in the air and threatened to punch her. The woman talked to the bus driver to make him aware of the situation.
Video of the encounter shows that, when the bus stopped, the man approached the victim while she was talking to the driver. That's when he allegedly punched her several times, causing her to fall down.
“It is really concerning, I mean unprovoked assaults like this seem to be on the rise,” Const. Amanda Steed of the Metro Vancouver Transit Police told CTV News Monday.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say on public transit just in general they seem to be on the uptick,” added Steed.
Police also confirmed that Kelly was the same man who was arrested after knocking over a woman and toddler in Chinatown in July.
"We're only one part of the puzzle, one piece of the puzzle. We do our part, we recommend charges to Crown council, and it is ultimately up to them whether or not they hold somebody in custody,” said Steed.
The BC NDP government has come under fire for what many have called a “catch-and-release” system.
Earlier this year, Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart said 40 people were responsible for over 6,300 incidents in the city.
In April, the B.C. Urban Mayors' Caucus, which includes 13 mayors, sent a letter to the attorney general and the solicitor general. The letter, shared online by the opposition Liberals, urges the government to act on the big city mayors' concerns about chronic offenders.
Shortly after the letter was released, Attorney General David Eby announced that former Vancouver Police Department deputy chief Doug LePard and Dr. Amanda Butler – a health researcher and criminologist – would consult with stakeholders and explore possible solutions to both repeat offenders and stranger attacks. Some of the issues to be examined include real-time electronic monitoring and compulsory social supports.
The findings of that report are expected to be released in the fall.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Bhinder Sajan
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.