CHARGES have been approved following the arrest by Metro Vancouver Transit Police of a suspect in the stabbing of a 67-year-old man on board a SkyTrain.
As was previously reported by Transit Police, on December 4, shortly after 1 p.m., a man boarded an eastbound SkyTrain at Scott Road Station. As he attempted to sit down, he accidentally bumped into another man who was about to sit in the same seat. The victim ignored the accidental bump and moved to a different part of the train.
Moments later, the suspect allegedly approached the victim, got close to his face and demanded an apology. The victim pushed the suspect away into a nearby seat and attempted to hold him down until help could arrive when he felt a sharp pain in his side. The victim looked down and allegedly saw that the suspect had a knife in his hand.
As the SkyTrain arrived at Gateway Station, the suspect ran off the train and out of the station. The victim was taken to hospital with multiple, but non-life-threatening stab wounds.
Following the stabbing, Metro Vancouver Transit Police worked around the clock to identify the suspect involved. Weeks later, while dealing with a man on an unrelated matter, Metro Vancouver Transit Police Crime Suppression Team members recognized this person as a possible suspect from the stabbing. Further investigation led to the arrest of the suspect.
Charged with aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose is Siwakorn Wangcharoensap, a 19-year-old Surrey man who is known to police. Wangcharoensap has been held in custody.
“A person was stabbed; there is no feel-good ending to a file like this. The seriousness of this incident was not lost on our investigators. Our General Investigation Unit worked tirelessly to identify and arrest this violent suspect, bringing a successful conclusion to this investigation.” said Constable Mike Yake.