Vancouver police investigating possible hate crime after violent Pride Week assault
Posted August 27, 2022 10:07 am.
Last Updated August 29, 2022 12:23 pm.
Editor’s note: Police say the suspects have been identified and that at least one is a “young person.” Video in a previous version of this story has been removed.
Police in Vancouver are investigating a possible hate crime after an unprovoked attack outside a convenience store on Commercial Drive in late July.
On Saturday VPD released a disturbing video of the attack in hopes of identifying the suspects.
It happened shortly after midnight on July 31, near Commercial Drive and 10 Avenue when a 42-year-old man stopped to buy a Slurpee after celebrating Pride Week events downtown.
Police say there was a brief confrontation between him and another person inside, and when the victim left three men attacked him.
“The victim had a drink thrown at him, was knocked to the ground, and was repeatedly punched and kicked by three men, while two women watched from a distance,” said Cst. Tania Visintin. “After the attack, the men and women left together, leaving the injured victim on the side of the road.”
VPD say they are now investigating the attack as a possible hate crime, but have not been able to identify the men or women in the video.
“This is another disturbing assault that appears to have occurred without provocation,” said Visintin. “We believe this incident may have been motivated by hate, and we’re asking anyone who recognizes the people in this video to contact our investigators.”
Police say the three male suspects appear to be in their 20s.
One man was wearing a black t-shirt and black pants, with black shoes with orange markings.
The other two men were wearing white t-shirts, dark shorts, and white shoes.
