Vancouver police are investigating three violent stranger assaults that happened Thursday night (Aug. 18) in Vancouver's Fairview neighbourhood.
“Three violent attacks happened in close proximity to each other within a short time-frame,” says VPD Const. Tania Visintin.
Investigators are trying to determine if any of the assaults are related, Visintin adds.
The first assault happened near the False Creek seawall, just under the Cambie Street Bridge, shortly after 6:30 p.m. when a 70-year-old man was approached from behind, tackled to the ground, then punched and kicked several times by an unknown man.
Nearly 45 minutes later, around 7:15 p.m., a 33-year-old woman was walking her dog when she was approached from behind by an unknown man and punched in the face. The assault happened in a lane near West 11th Avenue and Spruce Street.
The third attack happened just before 8:45 p.m. when a 23-year-old woman was stabbed by an unknown man while walking near West Broadway and Alder Street, suffering a serious but non-life threatening injury. The suspect was last seen heading south on Alder Street.
“Incidents like these leave victims with physical and emotional scars, but they also cause fear and anxiety throughout the community," says Visintin
Investigators have been working on the cases since they happened to collect evidence and try to locate the person or people responsible, Visintin adds.
Anyone who witnessed one of these incidents or has any information is asked to call VPD’s Major Crime Section at 604-717-2541.
