Suspect arrested after daytime stabbing in downtown Vancouver
Vancouver police arrested a man Wednesday afternoon who they believe had been chasing people with a knife.
Witnesses told CTV News it appeared the suspect was assaulting people he didn’t know, and at random.
Just after noon, a man was spotted leaving the 7-Eleven at Smithe and Beatty streets. Moments later, witnesses saw him begin to attack people.
Others saw what looked liked victims trying to flee the scene.
“I saw a gentleman running down the street,” said Lisa Callender, who works at a salon on Cambie Street.
”It was like running, not like ‘I’m going to try to catch the bus, it was like ‘I need to get out of here,’” she said.
Police tape was strung at various spots along Smithe and Cambie streets, where most of the assaults occurred.
“Like it was just chaos,” said Shannon Jefferson, who also works at a salon.
“Clients were like ‘get out,’ and the guys who were walking to the salon were kind of freaking out,” she said.
Police confirmed at least one man was stabbed, and images obtained by CTV News show he was struck in the side.
“Our officers deployed immediately. They arrived on scene, they were able to take the suspect into custody” said Const. Tania Visintin of the Vancouver Police Department.
The victim was taken to hospital but police say his injuries were not life-threatening and that he has been released.
BC Emergency Health Services said two patients were taken to hospital by ambulance. Police confirmed, when asked, that the second person transported was the suspect.
A knife, a culinary blowtorch and a lighter were found at the scene.
Other witnesses said it appeared the suspect was trying to burn people or set them on fire.
“What led up to this incident, what causes suspect to do that, our investigators are working hard to determine,” said Visintin.
Anyone with information is urged to call 604-717-2541.
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