'A freeze response of shock': Expert weighs in on bystanders not stepping in during fatal Vancouver stabbing
After a man was fatally stabbed outside of a Vancouver Starbucks in front of dozens of witnesses, video of the attack is circulating on social media, raising questions about why nobody stepped in to help.
Paul Schmidt, 37, was stabbed in front of his fiancée and his three-year-old daughter after an argument with another man on Sunday. A GoFundMe set up to help his young family has now reached more than $100,000.
His mother said the argument started because Schmidt asked the man not to vape near his daughter.
Graphic video of the attack has been circulating online, showing bystanders watching and filming, but not stepping in to help. One man in particular is seen casually drinking his coffee moments after Schmidt was stabbed.
According to clinical counsellor Robert Grigore, it’s an understandable response.
“Most likely, this gentleman is in a freeze response of shock,” Grigore said. “His nervous system is overwhelmed, he's not quite processing what’s happening. He’s just doing auto-pilot.”
When it comes to witnessing traumatic and stressful incidents, Grigore said people have three natural responses, “fight, flight, and then freeze.”
He also raised concerns about members of the public viewing the raw video, with something so traumatic possibly leading to PTSD.
“You can’t not see it,” he said. “Just watching you could have nightmares, flashbacks, start to feel uneasy. You might be hyper vigilant, looking around when you’re walking on the street.”
The attack, meanwhile, is reigniting concerns that Vancouver is not safe. CTV News asked for comment from Mayor Ken Sim, who ran on a public safety platform in the fall election. We were directed to ABC Coun. Brian Montague, a former police officer.
“I’m saddened, I’m sickened,” Montague said in response to the attack. “There’s no reason for something this violent to be occurring, there’s just no rationale behind it. Even as a police officer for 28 years, I could never wrap my head around the senseless of violence that sometimes occurs.”
When asked about the sentiment of Vancouver being unsafe, he responded, “I think we’re doing better, there’s always room for improvement.”
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.
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.
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.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
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.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.