SHORTLY after 1 a.m. on September 10, frontline Richmond RCMP officers responded to the area of the 9500-block of Tomicki Avenue after a man was allegedly assaulted by an unknown assailant.

The suspect fled prior to police arriving. An extensive search was conducted but the suspect was not located.

The victim, a 62-year-old man from Richmond, sustained a serious but non-life-threatening laceration and was treated in hospital. No motive for the attack was determined.

Significant investigative resources from the General Investigation Section, Strike Force Unit, and frontline patrol officers led to the identification of a suspect. The 37-year-old man from Richmond was arrested on November 1. A search warrant was executed at his Richmond residence.

The Prosecution Service of BC approved two charges against Xuewei Li of Richmond: one count of aggravated assault and one count of assault with a weapon.

“The safety of the community is and remains our utmost priority. The combined focus from a number of specialized investigative units within Richmond Detachment and frontline officers culminated in the swift identification and arrest of the individual responsible,” said Inspector Michael Cohee, Operations Support Officer, Richmond RCMP.