VANCOUVER Police are investigating the murder of a 19-year-old man after he died Friday night in East Vancouver.

Police were called to North Templeton Drive and Dundas Street for a man who had been stabbed just before 5:30 p.m. Burnaby resident, Thomas Simon, was treated on scene by paramedics. He was taken to hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

“This investigation is still in the very early stages, however, preliminary evidence suggests there were three people dressed in black with face masks who were seen by a witness fleeing the area,” said Constable Tania Visintin on Saturday.

Investigators believe this was a targeted incident and there are no public safety concerns.

Anyone with information or anyone who has dash cam footage in the area of North Templeton Drive and Powell Street between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on December 4 is asked to call VPD Homicide detectives at 604-717-2500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

This is Vancouver’s 17th homicide of 2020.