Vancouver police investigating multiple stabbings
Three people were taken to hospital with stab wounds while another was assaulted
Vancouver police are investigating four violent assaults that took place during the morning rush hour on Thursday.
The violent incidents took place just after 8:30 a.m. between West Broadway, Cambie Street, Main Street and East Second Avenue.
According to police, three victims were taken to hospital in serious condition with stab wounds. A fourth person was also assaulted.
At Cambie and Broadway, where the incidents began, police had yellow tape strung around the crime scene. A puddle of blood could be seen next to a pile of items, including sunglasses, a cell phone and a bag. A VPD sergeant at that scene said the victim was a courier.
An altercation between the first person and the 33-year-old suspect left the victim with stab wounds, said police. The suspect then headed east on Broadway, where another person was assaulted at Yukon Street.
The suspect continued to flee and stabbed another victim at Quebec Street and East Fourth Avenue. A final victim was stabbed at Main Street and East Second Avenue, according to police.
The suspect, a Vancouver man, was pointed out to officers by a witness of the East Second Avenue stabbing who had remained on scene.
The suspect, who police believe is responsible for all four attacks was arrested without incident and remains in custody.
Amy Deol, owner of a Blenz coffee shop on West Broadway near Cambie Street, said a nurse who was trying to stop the victim from bleeding out came into her shop to clean up.
"There was blood everywhere, so she needed to wash her hands, so I just took my key and opened the door for her, and she was kind of shaky. It is scary. Everybody who walked in this morning, everybody was talking about it," said Deol.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the attacks to contact detectives from the VPD's Major Crime section at 604-717-2541.
VPD Const. Jason Doucette says they are looking for information on the attacks but would also like to offer the support of victims services.
"Seeing something like this could be traumatic, and we want to make sure that we're able to provide them support and any available resources that could be useful to them," said Doucette.