Vancouver DTES machete attack leaves two hurt, latest unprovoked incident in days
Posted June 20, 2022 3:04 pm.
Last Updated June 20, 2022 8:15 pm.
Vancouver police say two people are hurt following an “unprovoked machete attack” on the Downtown Eastside Sunday night.
According to the VPD, the two people were slashed while they were loading their luggage into a cab near the Empress Hotel in the area of Main and Hastings streets. Both people suffered head and neck wounds and were taken to the hospital. They are expected to recover.
The victims didn’t know the attacker, police say, noting the man, who is described as heavy-set and in his 40s, ran away and has not been identified. At the time of the attack, he was wearing a grey t-shirt and blue raincoat and was carrying an umbrella.
The VPD says this incident is one of several officers responded to over the weekend. The department notes on Saturday, around 3:30 a.m. a 27-year-old man was stabbed and bear sprayed by a group of teens in the area of Drake and Seymour streets. In this instance, the victim again reported not knowing their attackers, who have not been identified.
Around 6:15 a.m. Saturday, police say a woman in the West End reported being slapped in the face by a man she didn’t know after she got off a bus. She told police the man was glaring at her and followed her off the bus.
Around the same time, the VPD says a man was arrested in the English Bay area after he pulled a fake pistol at another person. When officers took him into custody, he was found with an airsoft gun with two loaded magazines. “Police believe the suspect had been partying overnight at the beach when he got into a confrontation with a stranger,” police added.
Finally, on Sunday night, investigators say a 23-year-old man was stabbed while leaving a concert at Rogers Arena. The man was reportedly confronted by a group of people he didn’t know before he was stabbed in the stomach. The suspects haven’t been found or identified.
The VPD says it expects to “see a surge of people coming to the city” as COVID-19 restrictions have eased and as summer begins.
“More people always bring more calls for police service and the potential for increased conflicts,” Sgt. Steve Addison said.
