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
'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.
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.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.