A woman in her eighties was among four people stabbed by a single attacker in the Downtown Eastside Friday night.
She was the third victim in the flurry of unprovoked attacks, the first of which occurred around 8:20 p.m when police were called to the area of East Hastings and Princess Avenue. A 50-year-old man was allegedly approached from behind and slashed across the neck, police say. The suspect ran off and the man was treated for minor physical injuries.
Ten minutes later a second attack happened to a 56-year-old man just blocks away near Keefer and Jackson Avenue. He too suffered relatively minor stab wounds.
The elderly woman was stabbed third at approximately 8:40 p.m. close to Jackson and Union Street. She was slashed across the neck before her attacker ran off. Police say witnesses provided assistance before she was rushed to hospital with what is believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.
The fourth and last assault was against a 24-year-old man at 8:50 p.m. along Keefer Street at Gore Avenue. The victim received facial injuries before fighting off the attacker who continued west towards Main Street.
After the report of the first attack, Vancouver Police officers flooded the area. Two officers arrested the suspect less than five minutes after the last attack.
Crown counsel has approved four counts of aggravated assault against Joshua David Mennear, 23, from Vancouver. He remains in custody.
All of the victims are Vancouver residents and are expected to recover from their physical injuries. Resources from the VPD’s Victim and Witness Services were called out to assist in helping those involved to deal with the emotional impacts.
Anyone who may have information about these crimes, and has not yet spoken with police, is asked to call VPD Major Crime detectives at 604-717-2541 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
