New Westminster police would like to hear from anyone who witnessed a stabbing in the downtown neighbourhood on March 14.
The New Westminster Police Department received a call at about 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 14, about a stabbing on Alexander Street in downtown New Westminster. Officers rushed to the scene and located a female with several stab wounds who was receiving medical aid from BC Ambulance staff.
According to a NWPD press release, the victim was transported to hospital in serious but stable condition.
Police searched the area but were unable to locate any suspects. Officers have been actively interviewing witnesses and canvassing the area for CCTV footage.
Due to the serious nature of the injuries the police department’s Major Crime Unit has assumed conduct of the investigation.
“We take this kind of incident extremely seriously and we are conducting a very thorough investigation to ensure this suspect is identified and held accountable,” said NWPD Sgt. Andrew Leaver. “I would urge members of the public who saw anything suspicious or witnessed the incident to come forward and report information to us immediately.”
If anyone has information on this assault or those involved, they are asked to call the New Westminster Police Department’s Major Crime Unit tip line at 604-529-2430 or email [email protected].
The stabbing on Alexander Street was one of two stabbings that New West responded to on March 14.
In a statement to the Record, the New Westminster Police Department said it did not believe the incidents were linked.
Around 5 p.m. that night, officers responded to a 911 call about a stabbing at Westminster Pier Park about. There, officers found a victim who had suffered “a deep, non-life-threatening” laceration; she was provided first aid at the scene and transported to hospital.
According to a NWPD press release, officers learned that an altercation had taken place between two groups of youth inside the park.
“A suspect who was not known to the victim assaulted her with an edged weapon, causing her injury,” said the news release.
The suspect, who fled the park and headed towards the Columbia SkyTrain station, was not located. He is described as a Caucasian male, approximately 17 years of age, with short shaggy blonde hair, wearing a black sweater and black pants.
The New Westminster Police Department asks anyone who witnessed the incident to call 604-525-5411 and reference file number 23-4051.
“Both front line patrol officers and our Crime Reduction Unit do proactive patrols of the downtown neighbourhood when resources and call volume allows,” Leaver said in a statement to the Record. “Unfortunately, due to current staffing levels we’re not able to dedicate as much of our resources to proactive patrols as we would like.”
