A female tourist who was pushed from behind into traffic was just one of two troubling incidents that occurred over this past weekend in Vancouver.
According to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD), on Friday just after 2 p.m., the tourist was pushed from behind into traffic near Carrall Street and East Pender Street.
VPD says that the victim was fortunately not injured.
The suspect, who fled the area before police arrived, is described as an Indigenous woman who is between 40 and 50 years old. She is around 5’8″ tall, with a medium build, medium complexion and sunken cheeks. The suspect also has lip piercings and, at the time of the incident, was wearing a black toque, black jacket, black pants and black combat boots.
Investigators are appealing for video evidence to investigate this incident and another that occurred not too far away on Sunday.
Yesterday, at around 11:40 p.m., a man was stabbed in the neck multiple times near Main and Hastings streets.
The victim’s injuries have been determined to be non-life-threatening.
The suspect is being described as a Caucasian man, between 30 and 40 years old, and approximately six feet tall with a stocky build and a bald head.
At the time of the incident, he was wearing an orange shirt and tan pants.
Both suspects are at large, and it appears that both incidents were stranger attacks.
“People in the Downtown Eastside are often reluctant to come forward as witnesses,” said VPD Constable Darren Wong in a statement.
“Each incident this weekend occurred in an area where limited video surveillance was available. Video footage can help identify suspects and protect victims when witnesses are too afraid to speak up.”
Both incidents remain under investigation, and anyone who witnessed either of them, or motorists who may have been in the area with dash-cam footage, are being asked to contact the VPD non-emergency line at 604-717-3321.