A key witness to the fatal stabbing on a Richmond bus earlier this week has come forward to homicide investigators.
The police’s IHIT team has appealed yesterday for the woman passenger on the transit bus to contact them, believing she witnessed the random altercation between two male passengers on Tuesday afternoon.
“#IHIT wishes to thank our media partners and members of community for amplifying our appeal from yesterday,” tweeted IHIT on Friday afternoon.
“Your assistance is critical to our investigations. Our detectives continue to push ahead and advance the case.”
IHIT yesterday released a photo from the bus surveillance footage of the witness they urgently needed to speak to.
It’s hoped she has information pertaining to the argument between two Richmond men, aged 22 and 42, which resulted in the older of the pair being stabbed and later dying in hospital.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the IHIT information line at 1-877-551- IHIT (4448), or by email at [email protected].
Should you wish to remain anonymous, please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)?
The man suspected of stabbing to death the 42-year-old male passenger on the transit bus has been released from custody, pending further investigation.
Sgt. Frank Jang, of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT), told the Richmond News that charges have yet to be laid against the 22-year-old suspect and that “It's still early in the investigation and we're still gathering important evidence.”
Jang said IHIT hopes to go back to Crown prosecutors soon with additional evidence and charge approval.
And he reiterated their appeal for witnesses to the stabbing, which apparently stemmed from a “random argument” on board the southbound bus around 2 p.m. as it neared Aberdeen Centre on No. 3 Road.
Jang earlier said that "Determining what initiated the dispute between the two men involved will be a key priority for our investigators."
IHIT is not yet revealing the names of the victim or the man in custody.
The News reported on Tuesday how police responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls at around 2 p.m. to an incident on the bus, close to No. 3 and Cambie roads, which led to the 42-year-old passenger being taken to hospital in critical condition.
The area had been cordoned off, with witnesses reporting a total of 17 police cars on the scene, including officers with tactical gear.
Another witness, Peter Chen, watched the incident unfold from the platform of Aberdeen Canada Line station.
He told the News that he saw a man being arrested by police, after he stepped off a bus at the Domo gas station.
“He was ordered to get on the ground by officers armed with what looked like rifles,” Chen told the News.
“I heard the sirens before the bus even arrived, so I think the bus driver must have called ahead.”
