The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is investigating an unprovoked attack on a senior in Chinatown Friday morning, which the department says “appears to be racially motivated.”.The victim, an 87-year-old man, was out for his morning walk Friday when the assault happened, and VPD says he was standing at a bus stop near Pender and Columbia streets when a stranger approached him, made racist comments, and the deployed bear spray directly into his face..The incident was witnessed by at least one person, who stopped to help. A nearby business called 911..The attack happened just after 11:30 a.m..“Given the time of day and the location of this incident, we believe there were witnesses who have not yet come forward. We also believe there will be people who recognize the suspect and can help us identify him,” said Const. Tania Visintin, VPD..The attacker fled after the assault and has not been identified..Police are looking into whether of not the attack is related to “offensive graffiti” that appeared on the red gates outside Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, metres away from where the senior was assaulted..The graffiti read “Shhh.”.“People who live and work in Chinatown deserve to feel safe, valued, and respected,” said Visintin..“Violent and unprovoked attacks, rampant graffiti, and street disorder are appalling, and these incidents continue to erode peoples’ sense of safety.”.Investigators are looking for a 30 to 40-year-old man who is roughly six feet tall. He was described as wearing a black jacket, dark-coloured pants, a grey baseball cap, grey shoes with red trip and white soles..VPD has also increased patrols in and around Chinatown.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) is investigating an unprovoked attack on a senior in Chinatown Friday morning, which the department says “appears to be racially motivated.”.The victim, an 87-year-old man, was out for his morning walk Friday when the assault happened, and VPD says he was standing at a bus stop near Pender and Columbia streets when a stranger approached him, made racist comments, and the deployed bear spray directly into his face..The incident was witnessed by at least one person, who stopped to help. A nearby business called 911..The attack happened just after 11:30 a.m..“Given the time of day and the location of this incident, we believe there were witnesses who have not yet come forward. We also believe there will be people who recognize the suspect and can help us identify him,” said Const. Tania Visintin, VPD..The attacker fled after the assault and has not been identified..Police are looking into whether of not the attack is related to “offensive graffiti” that appeared on the red gates outside Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, metres away from where the senior was assaulted..The graffiti read “Shhh.”.“People who live and work in Chinatown deserve to feel safe, valued, and respected,” said Visintin..“Violent and unprovoked attacks, rampant graffiti, and street disorder are appalling, and these incidents continue to erode peoples’ sense of safety.”.Investigators are looking for a 30 to 40-year-old man who is roughly six feet tall. He was described as wearing a black jacket, dark-coloured pants, a grey baseball cap, grey shoes with red trip and white soles..VPD has also increased patrols in and around Chinatown.
