A person was taken to hospital with serious injuries after an “unprovoked” stabbing and robbery in downtown New Westminster on Saturday afternoon.
Metro Vancouver Transit Police and New Westminster Police Department officers responded to a report of an assault at the Shops at New West on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 21, said Transit Police spokesperson Const. Amanda Steed.
“Officers arrived on scene and located a victim who was suffering from apparent stab wounds on board a bus,” she said.
The New Westminster station bus loop at was closed and behind yellow tape while police investigated the incident.
The New Westminster Police Department said its officers received a call about 1:15 p.m. from someone who had found a man with numerous stab wounds. (The NWPD is overseeing the investigation.)
“Officers rushed to the scene and located a man inside a bus with several stab wounds needing immediate medical aid,” said a NWPD press release. “Officers provided aid, including the use of a tourniquet, until BC Ambulance Service arrived to transport the man to nearby hospital.”
According to the NWPD, officers learned that the victim had been stabbed and robbed near the parkade at the Shops at New West. The victim fled from the suspect and sought refuge inside a bus.
“This appears to be an unprovoked attack. There are no apparent connections between the victim and the assailant,” NWPD spokesperson Sgt. Justine Thom said in a news release. “Considering the time of day that this occurred, we believe there may be additional witnesses to this assault that have yet to speak to police, and we are encouraging those people to come forward.”
The suspect is described as a Caucasian man, approximately 20 to 39 years of age, standing no more than 5’7” in height, with short hair, a medium build. The suspect, who was wearing a white jacket with black accents and a black backpack, may be in possession of a large, dark-coloured suitcase.
According to the NWPD, the victim is a man from Vancouver who was just passing through the area. Police have learned he had a large suitcase with him that hasn’t been recovered.
“The suspect may have spent some time in and around the Shops at New West before the assault and robbery occurred,” said a NWPD press release. “If anyone has information on this assault or those involved, they are asked to call the New Westminster Police Department major crime unit tip line at 604-529-2430 or send an email to [email protected].”
Earlier this month, a man was rushed to hospital with “significant but non-life-threatening injuries” after a stabbing inside a SkyTrain car in New West. The incident occurred during a fight on board a train at Columbia SkyTrain station on the evening of Jan. 4, and a suspect was quickly arrested nearby.
Follow Theresa McManus on Twitter @TheresaMcManus
Email [email protected]
