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.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
Video appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs beating singer Cassie in hotel hallway in 2016
Security video aired by CNN appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs physically assaulting singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.
Scottie Scheffler isn't the first pro golfer to be arrested during a tournament
Scottie Scheffler's arrest hours before his second-round tee time at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, will go down as one of the most shocking in professional golf history. It certainly wasn't the first, though.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta border: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Anglers reel in 3.5-metre-long tiger shark off coast of Florida: 'She found my bait'
A group of fishers said it took roughly 20 minutes to reel in this 3.5-metre-long tiger shark off the coast of Florida.
Australia's richest woman seeks removal of her portrait from exhibition
Art is subjective. And while many artists long to share their work with the world, there's no guarantee that the audience will understand it, or even like it.
Canadian convicted of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer sentenced to 30 years
The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison.
Israeli military finds bodies of 3 Gaza hostages killed at music festival
Israeli military says its troops in Gaza found the bodies of three Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7 attack, including German-Israeli Shani Louk.