Police arrest suspect after two men assaulted with hammer in separate attacks

VANCOUVER – A 27-year-old Vancouver man has been arrested after two people were assaulted with a hammer in separate attacks.

Both incidents occurred within 30 minutes on Sunday night in the eastside of Vancouver.

In the first attack around 10:30 p.m., a 67-year-old man walking on the seawall was struck from behind and knocked to the ground, then hit again in the head and arm until a passerby intercepted and the suspect walked away.

A second man, aged 49, was attacked just before 11 p.m., and was hit on the head so hard he was knocked unconscious.

Police say the suspect boarded a bus and was found not far away, but when police attempted to confront him, the man ran into a nearby fast food restaurant and hid in the washroom until being taken into custody.

Police say the motive for the violence is unclear, and they will be requesting charges for two counts of aggravated assault.

News from © The Canadian Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is Canada's trusted news source and leader in providing real-time, bilingual multimedia stories across print, broadcast and digital platforms.