Vancouver Police are investigating the city’s tenth homicide and are asking for anyone with information about the death of a man who was assaulted in the Downtown Eastside last week to come forward.
In a release, police say 64-year-old Jeff Strom, a Vancouver resident, was assaulted near East Cordova and Dunlevy streets at around 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6. He was transported to hospital with serious injuries.
Strom subsequently died of his injuries in hospital on Saturday, Aug. 8.
James Frederick Fierheller, of no fixed address, was initially arrested for assault causing bodily harm. Those charges have now been updated to manslaughter.
“We believe there may be additional witnesses to the altercation who have not yet spoken with detectives,” says Sergeant Aaron Roed, VPD. “Any information they can provide could be critical to the investigation.”
Investigators are also looking for dashcam footage from any drivers who were in the area at the time of the murder. Anyone with information about is asked to call VPD detectives at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.
Mr. Fierheller is in custody.
