A man is in hospital after a broad daylight stabbing at an East Vancouver gas station..Witnesses told police the incident unfolded after a man hit a pedestrian with his vehicle at the Esso near Hastings and Skeena just before 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning..According to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) the driver got out of his car holding a machete in one hand, a smaller knife in the other, and began chasing after several people..The man sucker-punched a passerby before turning his attention back to the pedestrian, who he proceeded to stab in the neck and back..The attacker, a 61-year-old man, was quickly arrested by officers while attempting to steal a parked motorbike..The stabbed victim, 67, was taken to hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The man who had been punched was treated on scene..“We don’t know if there was a motive for this attack, and the fact that it appears random and unprovoked is extremely concerning,” said Const. Tania Visintin, VPD..“The victims and the suspect did not know each other, and did not appear to have any significant interactions before the attack.”.Visintin further highlighted that five hours prior to the attack, a man was seen erratically driving the same vehicle by police in several Metro Vancouver cities, successfully fleeing each time..“When the car was boxed in by police, the driver allegedly rammed into the police vehicle and fled again,” she said..Aside from Wednesday morning's machete attack, hypodermic needle-stabbings, unsuspecting sucker punches, and other forms of violence are among the various incidents contributing to Vancouver residents feeling increasingly unsafe..VPD highlighted earlier this month that violent crime in Vancouver increased more than 7% in 2021, compared to pre-pandemic levels. In the fall of 2021 Vancouver police said about four random attacks were happening per day.
