Man dead, another’s hand severed in downtown Vancouver ‘stranger attacks’: VPD

A man is dead and another has been left with serious injuries after what police describe as a “stranger attack” in downtown Vancouver Wednesday morning.

The Vancouver Police Department says officers responded to reports of an attack near Cathedral Square at Richards and Dunsmuir streets downtown just after 7:30 a.m.

When police arrived, they found a man in his 50s “who had been attacked with a knife, was bleeding from the head, and had suffered a severed hand. The man was taken to hospital for emergency treatment and is expected to survive.”

Just moments later, police say they were called to West Georgia and Hamilton streets after reports that a second man had been attacked.

“Despite efforts to save his life, the man died at the scene. The victim’s identity and age have not yet been confirmed,” Sgt. Steve Addison said in a statement Wednesday.

At a press event Wednesday afternoon, police said they still had not confirmed any details about the victim but said “he appears to be approximately 70-years-old.”

Police explain that as investigators were working to gather evidence from the two crime scenes, they were able to identify the suspect and “began searching for him.”

Shortly after 9 a.m., police then received reports that a man, who matched the suspect’s description, was “behaving erratically” and had approached a stranger and started yelling at him at Habitat Island, near Olympic Village.

A 34-year-old White Rock resident has been taken into custody in relation to the morning attacks and is currently at the Vancouver Jail, police explain. “Investigators are treating the incidents as unprovoked stranger attacks,” they add.

“Attacks like these shake our collective sense of comfort and safety, and we’re grateful that a suspect was quickly taken into custody by our officers, ” says VPD Chief Const. Adam Palmer. “Although it will take time before we have all of the answers, it does not appear either victim knew the suspect, and we believe these attacks were completely random.”

“What it can tell you is this appears to be a very troubled man who has a lengthy history of mental health related incidents, which have resulted in more than 60 documented contacts with police throughout Metro Vancouver. He has a prior conviction for assault, prior conviction for assault causing bodily harm, and at the time of his arrest, he was on probation out of White Rock for an assault that occurred in 2023,” said Palmer at a press event Wednesday afternoon.

He says the suspect was not in violation of his probation by being in Vancouver.

Palmer says events like these, while deeply disturbing, are rare. The suspect is in custody in Vancouver and Palmer says police cannot release his name until charges are laid.

While the incident was still unfolding early Wednesday, VPD Const. Tania Visintin told 1130 NewsRadio that there had been a “serious assault.”

In an update posted to X around 8:30 a.m., the VPD shared that was investigating “two serious incidents downtown this morning between 7:30 and 7:45. No arrests have been made and it is unknown if the incidents are connected.”

“Extra VPD officers are patrolling. Crime scenes are at W. Georgia and Hamilton, and near W. Georgia and Homer Street. We will provide more info when available,” the VPD continued.

Callers to 1130 NewsRadio previously shared that dozens of police cruisers were seen driving down West Georgia Street with lights and sirens around 7:30 a.m.

Police tape blocked off a portion of the šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn plaza, near the Queen Elizabeth Theatre box office. A white tent was also set up by investigators, covering what looked to be a body. A pool of blood could be seen nearby on the sidewalk.

The Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Fire Rescue Service, and ambulances responded to the incidents.

Footage of the arrest on Habitat Island was shared with CityNews. Dozens of police officers could be seen on the island, with a man being taken into custody. Police tape was also erected in that area.

Taking to social media, B.C.’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Mike Farnworth shared that he has been briefed on the incident and is “relieved that a suspect has been taken into custody.”

“We will provide any required resources towards this investigation,” he added.

Speaking to press Wednesday, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim says the federal government has a responsibility to address what he considers the root causes of violent attacks.

“Now we do appreciate the province has already demonstrated their willingness to adjust policy that isn’t working. And we’ve seen the changes in how they work firsthand, as it related to their pivot on [illicit drug] decriminalization, and we want to thank them for that. However, more work needs to be done, especially by the federal government, when it comes to attacks and violence, and the mental health crisis,” said Sim.

“So I just want to be really clear here, we have a choice. If we don’t pivot, expect to see more press conferences like this.”

The VPD is asking anyone with information about the attacks to come forward and speak with police. The homicide team can be contacted at 604-717-2500.

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–With files from Mike Lloyd.