Kelowna RCMP investigating brutal downtown assault

KELOWNA – A Kelowna man who witnessed a brutal assault by a group of young men on a lone male in downtown Kelowna on the weekend says he feels like he came close to seeing a murder in progress.

“It was five or six guys on one,” the man said, wondering about the extent of his injuries. “They stomped on his head."

The man asked his name not be used because he feared retribution from the assailants.

“They came after me when they saw I was filming it,” he added.

The man said he was on Pandosy Street early Saturday, April 21, around 2 a.m. in downtown Kelowna as the bars were closing when the man was assaulted.

“I was having a hot dog,” he said.

While he did not know what provoked the assault, the man said he’s taking it as a warning.

“That could have been me. It could have been anyone,” he said.

The man said he feels like bar fights are different than they once were.

“I used to like watching a bar fight but it’s not fun watching anymore,” he said. “No scruples anymore. Five on one shouldn’t happen.”

RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey confirmed police are investigating the assault

Police responded to a the assault after the Kelowna Fire Department discovered the injured man, O'Donaghey said, and B.C. Ambulance paramedics were already on scene when police arrived.

O'Donaghey said the victim's injuries are considered non life-threatening and police would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the alleged assault or who may have taken video of or still photographs during or immediately afterward.

Witnesses are asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300 and cite file #2018-20389.

— This story was updated at 1:55 p.m. Monday, April 23, 2-18 with new information from Kelowna RCMP.


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John McDonald

John began life as a journalist through the Other Press, the independent student newspaper for Douglas College in New Westminster. The fluid nature of student journalism meant he was soon running the place, learning on the fly how to publish a newspaper.

It wasn’t until he moved to Kelowna he broke into the mainstream media, working for Okanagan Sunday, then the Kelowna Daily Courier and Okanagan Saturday doing news graphics and page layout. He carried on with the Kelowna Capital News, covering health and education while also working on special projects, including the design and launch of a mass market daily newspaper. After 12 years there, John rejoined the Kelowna Daily Courier as editor of the Westside Weekly, directing news coverage as the Westside became West Kelowna.

But digital media beckoned and John joined Kelowna.com as assistant editor and reporter, riding the start-up as it at first soared then went down in flames. Now John is turning dirt as city hall reporter for iNFOnews.ca where he brings his long experience to bear on the civic issues of the day.

If you have a story you think people should know about, email John at jmcdonald@infonews.ca