Police say a 19-year-old student was walking near Dunsmir and Cambie streets in Downtown Vancouver at 9:50 a.m. Tuesday morning when she was approached from behind by a man she didn't know.
The man hit her over the back of the head with a pole and used a racial slur before fleeing the area, all the while making offensive comments.
The young woman was of Asian heritage and the Vancouver Police Department believes the incident to be racially motivated. She was injured and required medical attention, however the police report the injuries are not life-threatening.
“Although there were other people walking in the block at the time of the assault, they couldn’t have prevented the attack because it was so sudden,” says VPD Constable Jason Doucette in a media release. “Witnesses called 911, provided information about the suspect, and stayed with the victim until first responders arrived.”
The VPD has released a photo of the suspect taken just after the assault. Doucette says that public safety is the top priority as the suspect remains at large.
"We need to get this guy identified and arrested," he says and asks that anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information about the assault call investigators at 604-717-2541.
