A man stabbed during a fight on a transit bus in Richmond, B.C. this week has died, investigators say.
The 42-year-old was stabbed during an incident on a Coast Mountain bus near No. 3 and Cambie roads at around 2 p.m. Tuesday.
He has not been publicly identified. He was rushed to hospital, but did not survive his injuries.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team confirmed the man's death in a statement issued the following afternoon.
The investigation is ongoing, IHIT said, but it appears that the incident began as a "random argument," which then escalated to a physical fight.
On Tuesday, the RCMP said multiple people called 911. Video posted on social media showed paramedics giving the victim CPR in the doorway of the bus.
Few details have been provided about what is alleged to have happened, but IHIT said a 22-year-old man from Richmond was arrested. That man has also not been identified and no charges have been announced. Investigators have now announced the man initially arrested has been released from custody, but is still considered a suspect according to Sgt. Frank Jang.
“Right now we are still collecting the evidence and we haven’t met the threshold for charge approval but we’re hoping to change that soon so we are diligently gathering the evidence,” Jang said.
Jang also confirmed to CTV News Vancouver the suspect has had a few previous negative interactions with police.
At the time of his arrest, Mounties said they did not know whether the victim and the man in custody knew each other.
IHIT is working with the RCMP, BC Coroners Service and forensic specialists to investigate the death. Officers are looking to see if there may be video from the transit vehicle as well.
"Determining what initiated the dispute between the two men involved will be a key priority for our investigators," Jang said in a statement. "We urgently need to speak with those passengers that left the bus after the incident who have not yet spoken to police."
Anyone with more information is asked to contact IHIT at 1-877-4448, or to call Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Tips can also be sent by email.
