The stabbing incident on a Richmond transit bus on Tuesday afternoon has now turned into a full-scale homicide investigation.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) announced Wednesday afternoon that the 42-year-old male victim, from Richmond, has since died from his stabbing wounds.
A TransLink bus is cordoned off at the Domo gas station on No. 3 Road south of Cambie in Richmond on Tuesday, July 23, 2019. Photo submitted by Liz via Richmond News
Police say the attack, which led to a 22-year-old Richmond man being arrested, appeared to take place after a "random argument" between the two passengers.
They are now appealing to the public for any information on what led to the attack, especially the passengers on the bus, who apparently left before the police arrived.
"Determining what initiated the dispute between the two men involved will be a key priority for our investigators," said Sgt. Frank Jang, of IHIT.
IHIT is not yet revealing the names of the victim or the man in custody.
Anyone with information should contact IHIT at 1-877-551-4448 or by email [email protected]. Or call Crimstoppers anonymously on 1-800-222-8477.
The Richmond News reported yesterday how police responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls at around 2 p.m. to an incident on the bus, close to No. 3 and Cambie roads, which led to a 42-year-old male passenger being taken to hospital in critical condition.
BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) told the Richmond News earlier that an ambulance "transported the patient to hospital in critical condition."
The area had been cordoned off, with witnesses reporting a total of 17 police cars on the scene, including officers with tactical gear.
Another witness, Peter Chen, watched the incident unfold from the platform of Aberdeen Canada Line station.
He told the Richmond News that he saw a man being arrested by police, after he stepped off a bus at the gas station.
“He was ordered to get on the ground by officers armed with what looked like rifles,” Chen told the News.
“I heard the sirens before the bus even arrived, so I think the bus driver must have called ahead.”
Chen said the few passengers left on the bus were escorted off by police, along with driver.
