No arrests as Vancouver detectives investigate city’s first homicide of 2019

Vancouver has recorded its first homicide just hours into 2019.

Const. Jason Doucette says in a news release that police were called to an apartment in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside around 8 p.m. on Jan. 1.

He says a 39-year-old man who had been assaulted was found in “obvious medical distress” and died at the scene.

The victim has been identified as Matthew Dillen Johnson of Vancouver.

Police say, based on the initial investigation, they don’t believe the public is at risk.

No arrests have been made.