VANCOUVER Police arrested four people on Sunday morning after a 63-year-old man was stabbed and seriously injured by a suspected shoplifter in the Olympic Village.
“This is another violent incident that underscores the realities small businesses, their staff, and shoppers face every day,” said Sgt. Steve Addison. “Nobody should be subjected to this level of violence at their work or in their community. We wish the victim a full recovery, and we’re grateful to have made quick arrests in this case.”
The incident occurred just before 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, when a store security officer tried to stop a shoplifter from leaving a liquor store near Manitoba Street and 1st Avenue. A witness who was passing by intervened to assist, and was stabbed by the alleged shoplifter. He sustained a serious injury that required immediate medical care.
VPD officers provided emergency first aid to the victim by applying a tourniquet to slow the bleeding. Officers then obtained security images from the store and began searching for the suspect, who fled from the crime scene with three accomplices before police were called.
Shortly after midnight, VPD officers patrolling near Granville and Robson Street located and arrested the four suspects. The stabbing suspect, a 21-year-old from Surrey, was taken to jail and held until Sunday afternoon. He has now been released from custody with bail conditions and is expected to face criminal charges once the investigation is complete.
The three accomplices – an 18-year-old man from Richmond, a 16-year-old girl from Surrey, and a 16-year-old girl from New Westminster – have also been released on bail pending completion of the investigation.
