Vancouver police looking for downtown assault suspect

Police in Vancouver are asking for the public’s help to find a suspect related to a random assault last week.

The Vancouver Police Department says the 28-year-old victim was walking alone outside Hudson’s Bay on West Georgia Street just after 10 p.m. on Nov. 28, when he was hit in the face by a stranger.

The victim was knocked to the ground, sustaining facial injuries but didn’t go to hospital, the VPD says.

“This was a completely unprovoked and violent sucker-punch on a total stranger,” said Sgt. Steve Addison. “Given this level of random violence, we have serious concerns that another innocent person could be assaulted and badly injured by this suspect. It’s imperative that we work quickly to gather all evidence from eyewitnesses and take this person into custody as soon as possible.”

(Courtesy VPD)

The suspect is described as a man in his 20s, and at the time he was wearing dark pants and a checkered shirt. After the assault, he ran toward Granville Street, police say.

The VPD adds that the assault took place near a bus stop, with more than a dozen people standing nearby, however, some witnesses left before speaking with police.

“As our investigation continues, we’d like to speak to anyone who was present in the moments prior to the assault, as well as those who helped the victim after he was attacked,” Addison said. “These eyewitnesses may have important information about the suspect’s behaviour and state of mind at the time of the assault.”

Anyone with information about the incident is being urged to contact police at 604-717-4022.