METRO Vancouver Transit Police are investigating after a woman was attacked over a mask dispute on SkyTrain.
On Monday, September 20, at approximately 7:20 p.m., a woman was on a SkyTrain travelling through Burnaby when she noticed that a man and a woman who were sitting close to her were not wearing masks. The woman asked them if they had masks to wear and they shot back: “What’s it to you?”
The female suspect then got up from her seat and allegedly struck the victim without provocation and with so much force that it caused her to fall from her seat. Both suspects then allegedly hit the victim while she was on the ground before exiting the SkyTrain at Metrotown Station. The victim stayed on the SkyTrain and contacted Metro Vancouver Transit Police.
Thankfully, the victim did not sustain serious injuries, police said.
The female suspect is described as white, in her early 20s, 5’5” tall, medium build with long dyed red hair, wearing a black coat with writing down the sleeves and red track pants.
The male suspect is described as white, 25–30 years of age, 5’10” tall, medium build with short brown hair wearing a dark jacket and jeans.
“The circumstances surrounding this incident are troubling. Violence in any form will never be tolerated, especially when it’s unprovoked and results from a reasonable expectation that masks be worn on transit during a pandemic,” said Constable Mike Yake.
He added: “Transit Police officers are enforcing mandatory masks on transit. Anyone failing to wear a mask on transit may be subject to a $115 fine.”
Anyone with any information regarding these two suspects, or who may have witnessed this incident, is asked to contact Transit Police at 604-515-8300 or text at 87.77.77.