A 19-year-old Burnaby man is dead following a stabbing in East Vancouver Friday night, police say.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is now investigating the murder of Thomas Simon, and says the incident appears to have been targeted.
In a news release issued Saturday, police say they were called to the scene at North Templeton Drive and Powell Street just before 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4, where a man had reportedly been stabbed. Paramedics treated Simon, the stabbing victim, at the scene. He was subsequently taken to hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The incident marks Vancouver's 17th homicide of 2020.
In the release, VPD Const. Tania Visintin says that although the investigation is still in the very early stages, "preliminary evidence suggests there were three people dressed in black with face masks who were seen by a witness fleeing the area."
Investigators do not believe there is any risk to the public.
Police ask anyone with information or anyone who may have dash cam footage captured near North Templeton Drive and Powell Street between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4 to call VPD Homicide detectives at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
