Police make arrest after random triple stabbing in downtown Vancouver
Posted July 23, 2024 12:28 pm.
Last Updated July 23, 2024 5:29 pm.
Police say a person is in custody and three people are recovering from stab wounds after being attacked in downtown Vancouver Monday night.
The Vancouver Police Department says between 9:40 p.m. and 9:52 p.m. three men — a 33-year-old, a 41-year-old, and a 32-year-old — were allegedly stabbed by the same suspect.
Sgt. Steve Addison tells CityNews the victims all suffered “serious injuries.”
“We don’t believe there’s any indication that the victims knew each other or the suspect, however, the ivestigation is still ongoing,” he said.
“This is a significant series of violent incidents that happened in the downtown core. We understand that it creates a public safety concern when people hear about it.”
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!The stabbings all reportedly happened along Granville Street near Nelson and Davie streets.
“We received three 911 calls in quick succession starting at about 9:40 p.m. last night,” said Addison.
“The first call came in reporting that a 33-year-old man had been stabbed in the back near Granville Street and Nelson. Our officers were responding to that when, a few minutes later, the second call came in. A short distance away, another man had been stabbed in an apparent assault by a person that he didn’t know.”
Addison says officers “flooded the downtown core.” While they were responding, the third call came in.
“About 10 or 12 minutes after the initial call came in, we received that third report that a person had been stabbed near Nelson and Granville,” he said. “Three very serious incidents, three stabbings we believe committed by a person that was not known to the victims.”
VPD ‘not able to speak to what the motive was’ yet
Police arrested the suspect downtown. He remains in custody with charges being recommended. No details about the man have been provided.
Though their injuries are serious, Addison says all three victims are expected to physically recover.
“All three victims were taken hospital to receive treatment, two with injuries that I would classify as ‘less serious,’ although they did require hospitalization, medical care. One of the victims sustained a more serious injury, and while we don’t believe it’s life threatening, it is much more serious and required further medical attention.”
Addison would not call the stabbings random, saying the motive is not known.
“We can say with a pretty good level of certainty that the victims did not know each other and the victims did not know the suspect. At this point in the investigation, not able to speak to what the motive was,” he added.
In a statement to CityNews, the BC Emergency Health Services says Advanced Care and Primary Care Paramedics responded to the calls for help.
The VPD says the investigation is ongoing and any witnesses are asked to call their Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541.
Vancouver mayor says recent incidents ‘deeply unsettling’
In a statement Tuesday, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim addressed recent public safety incidents in his city.
“The safety and well-being of every Vancouverite is not just a priority – it’s our commitment. Vancouver is a city where everyone deserves to feel safe, whether they live, work, or play here,” he said in the wake of the triple stabbing, as well as after the discovery of two bodies in English Bay in recent days.
“The recent tragic events — especially the heartbreaking discovery of two deceased individuals in English Bay and the violent stabbings that occurred last night — are deeply unsettling. Though these incidents are unrelated, they have shaken our community. My heartfelt thoughts are with the victims and their families during this extremely challenging time.”
Sim stresses the VPD is “actively investigating these incidents,” adding the suspect in Monday night’s stabbings was “quickly arrested.”
“We are working closely with the VPD to take every necessary step to enhance public safety and prevent such incidents in the future,” the mayor continued, though he did not elaborate on what those steps might entail.
“In these moments, our community must come together and support one another. Together, we can build a stronger, safer Vancouver for all.”
-With files from Srushti Gangdev
