Suspect arrested after random assault at Vancouver business: VPD

Vancouver police say a suspect has been arrested after two people were randomly assaulted at a business on Friday.

According to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), it happened in the area of Keefer and Quebec streets in the icty’s Chinatown neighbourhood. Officers received reports around 10:30 a.m. that a suspect had “entered the storefront and began assaulting a random female staff member.”

Police go on to say a 74-year-old man was also assaulted as he tried to intervene.

“This assault appears to have been unprovoked and there was no prior relationship between the suspect and victims,” Sgt. Steve Addison said in an email Monday.

“VPD officers were close by and arrived within about a minute of the 9-1-1 call. The suspect was still on scene and was taken into custody.”

Both the staff member and senior were treated by paramedics, with police saying they “are expected to recover.”

No other details about their injuries were provided.

Addison says a 36-year-old has been charged with two counts of assault with a weapon.

-With files from Greg Bowman