As thousands of people packed into the Granville Entertainment District in light of relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, Vancouver police responded to a serious stabbing.
On Friday, Feb. 19 just before 2 a.m., VPD officers intervened in a violent assault near Smithe and Granville Street, after a 25 year old Vancouver man was stabbed. Officers from VPD’s Emergency Response Team provided immediate first aid to stem the bleeding before he was taken by ambulance to hospital for emergency surgery, according to a recent VPD release.
“VPD deployed additional officers in the downtown core Friday night, as capacity limits were lifted at bars and restaurants throughout the province,” says Steve Addison, VPD. “Large crowds began entering the downtown core in the early evening, with some lining up early at nightclubs and hundreds wandering the entertainment areas. This led to multiple conflicts on the street.”
A 21-year-old man from Surrey was arrested at the crime scene, and the investigation is ongoing. The victim is now expected to survive.
VPD will continue to deploy additional officers to manage crowds throughout the long weekend.
