‘Don’t share it’: Vancouver police say of downtown stabbing video

Police in Vancouver are urging people to stop sharing a brutal, bloody video of a stabbing outside a downtown Starbucks Sunday night, as they search for more witnesses and the motive behind the murder of a 37-year-old man.

The footage is disturbing, showing the fatal stabbing, the victim bleeding, the suspect, and shocked bystanders.

“We are aware that there is bystander video that is floating around on social media being posted and re-posted in various forms. It is a graphic video,” said Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Sgt. Steve Addison.

“We are encouraging people not to share that video … If you’ve got video, if you are a bystander, if you are a witness, please come forward and speak to our investigators, provide it to our investigators.”

“Don’t share it on social media. What you have could be important evidence in this very serious case.”

The graphic footage, which CityNews has chosen not to share, also shows some onlookers going about their business instead of rushing to Schmidt’s aid as he falls to the ground.

Addison says the incident has been extremely traumatic for everyone involved, from the victim’s family and friends to bystanders and staff to first responders. Addison says a number of people have reached out to the VPD’s victim services unit for help.

The man killed, Paul Stanley Schmidt, was stabbed outside the coffee shop near West Pender and Granville streets before 6 p.m. Sunday, reportedly in front of his wife and young daughter.

Read More: Stabbing at Vancouver Starbucks leaves one man dead

The suspect, 32-year-old Inderdeep Singh Gosal, has been charged with second-degree murder after being arrested at the scene.

Addison suggests the attack was likely random, with investigators believing the men did not know each other.

In a tweet, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim called the incident awful and tragic and is also asking people to stop sharing the video.

Couldn’t agree with you more @KenSimCity. Can there be anything more disgusting & loathsome than seeing a video posted of the stabbing. Aside from impacting evidence, have you considered the impact on the victim’s family and friends. https://t.co/uKSlCITjqF

— Howard Chow (@DeputyChow) March 28, 2023

“Our hearts go out to Mr. Schmidt and his family — out of respect for them and their loss, please refrain from sharing graphic images or videos of the incident on social media.”

The VPD believes there were dozens of witnesses and is asking anyone with information about what happened to contact the Major Crime Section at 604-717-2500.

A GoFundMe page has been started by the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden Society, hoping to raise $200,000 to support Schmidt’s family. A handful of donors had contributed by early Tuesday morning.

–With files from Hana Mae Nassar