Update: Monday, August 29 update, 11 a.m.
Earlier this week Vancouver Police released a video and asked the public for assistance in identifying a group of people who attacked a 42-year-old man outside a convenience store.
“Investigators began to receive tips from the public as soon as the video was released," says Constable Jason Doucette in a recent press release. "including from a family member of one of the suspects, who has been identified as a young person. We are confident that all of the suspects have been identified and will be held accountable for their role in the attack”.
Doucette told Vancouver Is Awesome that the suspects will fall under the Youth Criminal Justice Act since they are not yet adults. Currently, the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.
Original story follows.
Vancouver Police are asking the public to help identify the attackers in a violent and unprovoked attack that happened during Pride Week.
The assault happened outside of a convenience store near Commercial Drive and 10th Avenue shortly after midnight on July 31. A 42-year-old man went to buy a slurpee after celebrating Pride Week events downtown.
There was a brief verbal confrontation between the man and another person waiting in line, and when the victim left the store he was jumped by three men.
“The victim had a drink thrown at him, was knocked to the ground, and was repeatedly punched and kicked by three men, while two women watched from a distance,” says Cst. Tania Visintin. “After the attack, the men and women left together, leaving the injured victim on the side of the road.”
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is now investigating the attack as a possible hate crime.
The suspects are three men who appear to be in their 20s. One man was wearing a black t-shirt and black pants, with black shoes that had orange markings, and the other two men were wearing white t-shirts and dark shorts with white shoes.
VPD have released a video of the attack and are asking the public to help identify the suspects.
“This is another disturbing assault that appears to have occurred without provocation,” says Visintin. “We believe this incident may have been motivated by hate, and we’re asking anyone who recognizes the people in this video to contact our investigators.”
According to the video, adds Visintin, a number of people passed through the area, including people in cars and a cyclist who stopped to help but did not remain on scene when police arrived.
“We’re also asking these people to come forward to tell us what they saw and heard, so we can fully understand what happened,” says Visintin.
Anyone who witnessed or has dash-cam video of the attack, or can identify the men and women in the video, is asked to contact Vancouver Police at 604-717-9209 or email [email protected].
This article was originally published on Aug. 27, 2022 and has since been updated with new information
